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ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code

L98.4Non-pressure chronic ulcer of skin, not elsewhere classified

Not billable — use a more specific code

L98.4 is a header code, so it can't be reported by itself. Choose one of the 8 more specific codes beneath it.

Code unchanged since ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. Source: official FY2027 ICD-10-CM release from CDC/NCHS and CMS. Page updated September 29, 2026. About our data

About L98.4

L98.4 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of skin, not elsewhere classified. It belongs to category L98 (other disorders of skin and subcutaneous tissue, not elsewhere classified), block L80-L99 (other disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissue) and chapter 12 (diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue). It is a header code, so it can't be reported by itself; one of its 8 subcodes must be used instead.

Within L98 (other disorders of skin and subcutaneous tissue, not elsewhere classified), L98.4 is specifically for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of skin, not elsewhere classified. Related codes cover pyogenic granuloma (L98.0), Factitial dermatitis (L98.1), febrile neutrophilic dermatosis [Sweet] (L98.2), eosinophilic cellulitis [Wells] (L98.3), Mucinosis of the skin (L98.5), other infiltrative disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (L98.6), excessive and redundant skin and subcutaneous tissue (L98.7), other specified disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (L98.8) and 2 more.

To report this condition, pick the subcode that matches the documentation: L98.41 (buttock), L98.42 (back), L98.43 (abdomen), L98.44 (chest), L98.45 (neck), L98.46 (face), L98.47 (groin) and L98.49 (sites).

The conditions in its Excludes2 note aren't part of L98.4, but may be coded alongside it if the patient has both: pressure ulcer (pressure area) (L89.-), gangrene (I96), skin infections (L00-L08), specific infections classified to A00-B99 and 2 more.

It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.

Specific codes under L98.4

Coding notes

Applicable toConditions and synonyms classified to this code
  • Chronic ulcer of skin NOS
  • Tropical ulcer NOS
  • Ulcer of skin NOS
Excludes2Not included here — may be reported together if both conditions exist
  • pressure ulcer (pressure area) (L89.-)
  • gangrene (I96)
  • skin infections (L00-L08)
  • specific infections classified to A00-B99
  • ulcer of lower limb NEC (L97.-)
  • varicose ulcer (I83.0-I83.93)

Notes that apply from higher levels

Instructions written at a parent level also apply to L98.4.

Broader instructions also apply from Chapter 12: Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue.

Codes whose notes reference L98.4

Code history

  1. 2016
  2. 2017
  3. 2018
  4. 2019
  5. 2020
  6. 2021
  7. 2022
  8. 2023
  9. 2024
  10. 2025
  11. 2026
  12. 2027
  • FY2016 (effective 10/1/2015): Added (first year of ICD-10-CM)
  • No changes since FY2016.

Common questions about L98.4

Is L98.4 billable?

No. L98.4 is a header code. Report one of its more specific subcodes instead.