AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS - 2025 Issue 4; New/Revised ICD-10-CM Codes
Cutaneous Abscess, Furuncle, Cellulitis, and Acute Lymphangitis of Flank
The flank, also known as the lumbar region or latus, refers to the area of the thorax located between the posterior costal margin and the top of the iliac crest. Currently, ICD-10-CM does not have specific codes to capture the flank as a specific anatomic region of the trunk and typically directs to the abdomen or abdominal wall. Subcategories L02.21, Cutaneous abscess of trunk, L02.22, Furuncle of trunk, L03.31, Cellulitis of trunk, and L03.32, Acute lymphangitis of trunk, were expanded with the addition of new codes to capture flank as a specific anatomic...
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Article Overview
This article explains an ICD-10-CM update focused on creating flank-specific options within trunk-related infection categories. It is useful for coders, billers, CDI staff, and clinical documentation teams who need to understand how the flank is being addressed in the code set and what broad classification areas are affected.
Why This Topic Matters
Accurate anatomic documentation can affect code selection and specificity in ICD-10-CM, especially when existing categories are expanded to better capture a body region.
What You Will Learn
- The article’s focus within ICD-10-CM trunk-related infection coding
- Which broad infection categories were expanded to include the flank
- How the update affects anatomic specificity in documentation and coding review
- The relevance of the flank as a distinct trunk region in coding context
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Clinical documentation integrity specialists
- Billing staff
- Healthcare administrators
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
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