L51Non-billableSave
L51 - Erythema multiforme
ICD-10-CM Chapter 12: Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue · L49-L54 Urticaria and erythema (L49-L54) · Top-level category · FY2027
Coding Guidance
L51 is a non-billable heading. Report one of the 6 more specific codes below.
Includes, Excludes and Coding Notes
Excludes 1 — Not Coded HereFrom L51
Mutually exclusive: these conditions are never reported together with this code.
- staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (L00)
- Ritter's disease (L00)
Use Additional CodeFrom L51
Add a secondary code to identify the associated condition or cause when it is documented.
- code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5)
- code to identify associated manifestations, such as:
- arthropathy associated with dermatological disorders (M14.8-)
- conjunctival edema (H11.42)
- conjunctivitis (H10.22-)
- corneal scars and opacities (H17.-)
- corneal ulcer (H16.0-)
- edema of eyelid (H02.84-)
- inflammation of eyelid (H01.8-)
- keratoconjunctivitis sicca (H16.22-)
- mechanical lagophthalmos (H02.22-)
- stomatitis (K12.-)
- symblepharon (H11.23-)
- code to identify percentage of skin exfoliation (L49.-)
Excludes 1 — Not Coded HereFrom L49-L54 Urticaria and erythema (L49-L54)
Mutually exclusive: these conditions are never reported together with this code.
- Lyme disease (A69.2-)
- rosacea (L71.-)
Excludes 2 — Not Included HereFrom Chapter L00-L99
Not part of this code; report both codes when the patient has both conditions.
- certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
- certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
- complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
- congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
- endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
- lipomelanotic reticulosis (I89.8)
- neoplasms (C00-D49)
- symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)
- systemic connective tissue disorders (M30-M36)
- viral warts (B07.-)
More Specific Codes (6)
Related condition guides
Documentation requirements, coding pitfalls and FAQs for conditions coded with L51.
Chapter Information
Related ICD-10 Codes
More specific codes for L51
Other categories in this chapter
Codes at the same level as L51
- Staphylococcal scalded skin syndromeL00
- ImpetigoL01
- Cutaneous abscess, furuncle and carbuncleL02
- Cellulitis and acute lymphangitisL03
- Acute lymphadenitisL04
- Pilonidal cyst and sinusL05
- Other local infections of skin and subcutaneous tissueL08
- PemphigusL10
- Other acantholytic disordersL11
- PemphigoidL12
- Other bullous disordersL13
- Bullous disorders in diseases classified elsewhereL14
- Atopic dermatitisL20
- Seborrheic dermatitisL21
- Diaper dermatitisL22
- Allergic contact dermatitisL23
- Irritant contact dermatitisL24
- Unspecified contact dermatitisL25
- Exfoliative dermatitisL26
- Dermatitis due to substances taken internallyL27
- Lichen simplex chronicus and prurigoL28
- PruritusL29
- Other and unspecified dermatitisL30
- PsoriasisL40
- ParapsoriasisL41
- Pityriasis roseaL42
- Lichen planusL43
- Other papulosquamous disordersL44
- Papulosquamous disorders in diseases classified elsewhereL45
- Exfoliation due to erythematous conditions according to extent of body surface involvedL49
- UrticariaL50
- Erythema nodosumL52
- Other erythematous conditionsL53
- Erythema in diseases classified elsewhereL54
- SunburnL55
- Other acute skin changes due to ultraviolet radiationL56
- Skin changes due to chronic exposure to nonionizing radiationL57
- RadiodermatitisL58
- Other disorders of skin and subcutaneous tissue related to radiationL59
- Nail disordersL60
33 more in this chapter.