H60.03 Abscess of external ear, bilateral

ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H60.03: Abscess of external ear, bilateral

ICD-10-CM code H60.03 represents an abscess of the external ear affecting both sides, classified under diseases of the ear and mastoid process. This active diagnosis code is a specific concept nested within the broader parent category for external ear abscesses. The supplied sources establish its official terminology and structural hierarchy. 1 5

Plain-language overview

ICD-10-CM code H60.03 identifies an abscess of the external ear that is bilateral, serving as a specific diagnostic finding rather than a general symptom. 1 5

What this code represents

The official display label for H60.03 is Abscess of external ear, bilateral, and the terminology record classifies its semantic type as a finding within the ICD-10-CM version 2026 system. 1

Code H60.03 is nested under the parent concept H60.0 for abscess of external ear, distinguishing the bilateral condition from unspecified, right, or left ear presentations. 1 5

Coding details

The broader category H60-H62 covers diseases of the external ear, and H60.03 exists as a narrower concept beneath H60.0, which itself falls under the H60 otitis externa classification. 5

The H60.03 terminology record currently holds an active status, indicating it is a recognized code within the ICD-10-CM version 2026 terminology records. 1

Documentation considerations

The official terminology record for H60.03 explicitly defines the concept as an abscess of the external ear designated as bilateral, providing the specific terms for this diagnosis. 1

Clinical context

Clinical literature notes that patients frequently present to the emergency department with auricular collections requiring drainage, such as abscesses, which may necessitate a peripheral nerve block for procedural analgesia. 2

What the sources add

While the terminology record defines the code's structural hierarchy and active status, the clinical text adds practical context by describing external ear abscesses as collections that require drainage and may involve nerve blocks. 1 2

Coverage and utilization context

The inclusion of H60.03 in official terminology records and tabular lists establishes its diagnostic status, but the supplied excerpts do not discuss payer-specific coverage or reimbursement policies. 1 3

Sources

1. ICD-10-CM H60.03 terminology record — National Cancer Institute Enterprise Vocabulary Services; accessed 2026-07-27.
2. Bookshelf — ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
3. ICD-10-CM TABULAR LIST of DISEASES and INJURIES — ftp.cdc.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
4. ICD-10 | Abscess of left external ear (H60.02) — cdek.pharmacy.purdue.edu; accessed 2026-07-27.
5. H60.0 - Abscess of external ear | ICD-10-CM — unboundmedicine.com; accessed 2026-07-27.