T20.26XA Burn of second degree of forehead and cheek, initial encounter

ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code T20.26XA: Burn of second degree of forehead and cheek, initial encounter

ICD-10-CM code T20.26XA identifies a second-degree burn located on the forehead and cheek during an initial encounter. The terminology record classifies this concept as an injury or poisoning. Second-degree burns are also known as partial-thickness burns affecting both the outer and underlying layers of skin. 1 3 4

Plain-language overview

The terminology record for T20.26XA assigns the preferred name burn of second degree of forehead and cheek, initial encounter, and classifies its semantic type as an injury or poisoning. 1

Second-degree burns are also called partial-thickness burns, which affect both the outer and underlying layers of the skin, distinguishing them from superficial first-degree and full-thickness third-degree burns. 3 4

What this code represents

The code T20.26XA represents a specific diagnosis of a second-degree burn on the forehead and cheek, and its parent concept in the terminology hierarchy is T20.26. 1

A coding specification lists T20.26XA as an initial encounter code, distinguishing it from T20.26XD, which is designated for a subsequent encounter for the same burn condition. 6

Coding details

The terminology record indicates that the code T20.26XA has an active status and possesses narrower concepts within the ICD-10-CM version 2026 terminology. 1

A Medicare billing and coding article for cosmetic and reconstructive surgery includes T20.26XA in a list alongside T20.36XA, which designates a third-degree burn of the forehead and cheek. 5

Documentation considerations

Clinical evaluation of second-degree burns involves assessing the percentage of total body surface area affected, and treatment at a burn center may be recommended for second and third-degree burns of the face. 3

What the sources add

While the terminology record defines the code's structural hierarchy, a separate clinical review adds context by categorizing second-degree burns into superficial partial-thickness and deep partial-thickness variations. 1 2

A coding specification provides the full code tree context for T20.26XA, showing related initial encounter codes for corrosions and burns of varying degrees on the forehead and cheek. 6

Sources

1. ICD-10-CM T20.26XA terminology record — National Cancer Institute Enterprise Vocabulary Services; accessed 2026-07-27.
2. Hydrogels for the management of second-degree burns: currently available options and future promise — pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
3. Burn Evaluation: MedlinePlus Medical Test — medlineplus.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
4. Burns: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia — medlineplus.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
5. Article - Billing and Coding: Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery (A59299) — cms.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
6. ICD-10-CM 2024 | T20 - Burn and corrosion of head, face, and neck — unboundmedicine.com; accessed 2026-07-27.