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H71.31

Billable

Diffuse cholesteatosis, right ear

This code does not map to an HCC category in any model (V28, V24, ESRD, RxHCC).

What This Code Means

Cholesteatosis is a buildup of cholesterol crystals in the middle ear, and diffuse means it's spread throughout the ear. This code specifically indicates this condition is affecting the right ear.

Coding Tips

  • •Verify documentation specifies 'diffuse' cholesteatosis and confirms laterality (right ear) before assigning this code
  • •Distinguish between cholesteatosis (cholesterol buildup) and cholesteatoma (abnormal skin growth); they are different conditions with different codes

Code Hierarchy

└H71Cholesteatoma of middle ear└H71.3Diffuse cholesteatosis└H71.31Diffuse cholesteatosis, right ear
└H71.31Diffuse cholesteatosis, right ear

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