Wiki Pustules and Furuncles

[julielsemmler@yahoo.com]

When coding a diagnosis from the medical record that states, "Pustules and furuncles (acne) (face) Question would be how to code this? I have been told to code this as L02.02, L70.0. Other coders want to know if this should be L08.9, L02.02, and L70.9? What is the correct way?

What is the difference between pustules (L08.9) and pustular acne (L70.0)?

 

[mitchellde]

L02.02 Furuncle of face-
Furuncle -(boil) a painful nodule formed in the skin characterized by circumscribed inflammation of the curium and subcutaneous tissue

L08.9 Local infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, unspecified
This would not be a good code to use since the documentation was fairly specific. This is where you get to from the alpha listing for the keyword pustules. However you stated the documentation was more specific to acne.

L70.0. Acne vulgaris - a form characterized by comedones, papules, pustules, cysts, and nodules, occurring chiefly on the face, neck, upper truck, and upper arms.
Key word in the alph is acne then pustular