1. Mary Jo Bowie MS, BS, AAS, RHIA, RHIT

2. Diseases of the Ear and Mastoid Process
CHAPTER 13
Diseases of the Ear and Mastoid Process

3. Diseases of the Ear and Mastoid Process—Code Range H60-H95
Diseases of the Ear and Mastoid Process are reported from Chapter 8 of ICD-10-CM.
This chapter contains codes for disorders of the ear and mastoid process.
Coders should reference the EXCLUDES 2: note at the start of the chapter.

4. Structures of the Ear External ear—The visible part of the ear
Pinna—Flexible cartilaginous flap
External auditory canal—Also known as the external auditory meatus
Cerumen—Ear wax
Tympanic membrane—Eardrum
Middle ear—Also known as the tympanic cavity

5. Additional Structures
Malleus—Ear bone shaped like a hammer
Incus—Ear bone shaped like an anvil
Stapes—Ear bone shaped like a stirrup
Eustachian tube—Connects the middle ear to the pharynx
Oval window—Separates middle ear from the inner ear

6. Additional Structures
Vestible—Central portion of the inner ear
Semicircular canals—Three bony structures filled with fluid
Cochlea—A snail-shaped bony structure
Organ of Corti—The true organ of hearing

7. External, Middle, and Inner Ear
© Cengage Learning 2014

8. Structures of the Ear
© Cengage Learning 2014

9. Diseases of External Ear—H60-H62
Diseases reported here include:
Otitis externa
Chondritis and perichondritis of external ear
Impacted Cerumen
Acquired stenosis of external ear canal

10. Diseases of Middle Ear and Mastoid —H65-H75
This block of codes reports:
Otitis media
Eustachian salpingitis and obstruction
Mastoiditis
Cholesteratoma of middle ear
Perforation and other tympanic membrane disorders

11. Diseases of Inner Ear—H80-H83
Disorders reported here include:
Otosclerosis
Disorders of vestibular function
Labyrinthitis
Noise effects on inner ear

12. Structures of Inner Ear
© Cengage Learning 2014

13. Other Disorders of the Ear—H90-H94
The following disorders are reported here:
Conductive and sensorineural hearing loss
Other and unspecified hearing loss
Otalgia and effusion of ear
Degenerative and vascular disorders of ear
Tinnitus

14. Hearing Loss There are numerous causes of hearing loss.
ICD-10-CM uses the following categories:
H90—Conductive and sensorineural hearing loss
H91—Other and unspecified hearing loss: includes ototoxic, sudden idiopathic, and other specified hearing loss.
Medical documentation needs to be
referenced prior to code assignment.

15. Category Code H95 Intraoperative and postprocedural
complications and disorders of ear and
mastoid process, not elsewhere classified are reported with this category.
This category should only be used following
an operation or procedure.

16. Points to Remember
The ear is divided into three regions: external, middle, and inner ear.
Coders need to review the medical documentation to determine the section of the ear impacted by the disease process.

17. Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting
There are no guidelines for this chapter of ICD-10-CM.

18. Coding Practice Select the correct code for:
hemorrhagic otitis externa of the left ear

19. Coding Practice Solution
Main term to reference in index:
Otitis
Modifying term:
Externa, then hemorrhagic,
see Otitis, externa, infective, hemorrhagic
Code Assignment:
H60.322