ICD-10-CM Code For Nonspecific Lymphadenitis: Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code group I88 includes nonspecific lymphadenitis diagnoses that cover inflammation and enlargement of lymph nodes not otherwise specified, often due to infectious or inflammatory causes. These ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes are used to document clinical scenarios such as acute or chronic lymph node swelling, regional involvement, and associated signs like tenderness or erythema, capturing disease severity and organ involvement. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-CM I88 group supports proper claim adjudication, complete clinical documentation, and appropriate reimbursement.

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ICD-10-CM I88: Nonspecific Lymphadenitis Overview

The ICD-10-CM I88 group covers nonspecific inflammation of lymph nodes, commonly presenting as swollen or tender lymph nodes due to infection or inflammatory processes. These diagnoses target the lymphatic system and regional lymph nodes across multiple anatomical sites. Accurate coding matters for capturing the reason for care and supports appropriate reimbursement by reflecting the clinical complexity of lymphadenitis.

When to Use

Use a code from this group when the clinical documentation indicates nonspecific lymphadenitis or lymph node enlargement without a more precise etiologic or site-specific diagnosis. These codes apply when the clinician documents lymph node inflammation as the primary reason for care and no alternative specific diagnosis is available.

ICD-10-CM Codes

4 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
I88.0	Nonspecific mesenteric lymphadenitis
I88.1	Chronic lymphadenitis, except mesenteric
I88.8	Other nonspecific lymphadenitis
I88.9	Nonspecific lymphadenitis, unspecified

DRG Codes

6 rows

DRG Code	Description
393	Other Digestive System Diagnoses with MCC
394	Other Digestive System Diagnoses with CC
395	Other Digestive System Diagnoses without CC/MCC
814	Reticuloendothelial and Immunity Disorders with MCC
815	Reticuloendothelial and Immunity Disorders with CC
816	Reticuloendothelial and Immunity Disorders without CC/MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An otherwise healthy adult presents to urgent care with a rapidly tender, swollen lymph node in the right cervical region following a recent upper respiratory infection; physical exam shows localized warmth and pain without systemic sepsis. The clinician documents acute nonspecific lymphadenitis of the cervical chain after ruling out specific infectious causes and orders short-course antibiotics and outpatient follow-up, resulting in assignment of an acute nonspecific lymphadenitis code. Typical codes: I88.0, I88.9
An elderly patient with a history of chronic skin breakdown on the lower leg develops persistent, non-tender inguinal lymph node enlargement discovered during a routine primary care visit; there is no clear malignancy or identified organism on initial testing and the enlargement has been present for several weeks. Because the presentation represents a subacute to chronic nonspecific lymphadenitis likely related to chronic local inflammation, a nonspecific lymphadenitis code reflecting chronicity or unspecified site is used for ongoing evaluation and management. Typical codes: I88.1, I88.9
A hospitalized patient with documented bacteremia from a soft tissue infection develops multifocal tender lymphadenopathy and lymph node inflammation as a complication of the systemic infection; imaging and culture do not identify a specific granulomatous or neoplastic cause. The inpatient team documents lymphadenitis as a complication of the systemic infection and assigns a nonspecific lymphadenitis diagnosis to capture the inflammatory complication. Typical codes: I88.8, I88.9

Related Codes

I80-PHLEBITIS-AND-THROMBOPHLEBITIS

ICD-10-CM Code For Phlebitis And Thrombophlebitis: Group Overview

I81-PORTAL-VEIN-THROMBOSIS

ICD-10-CM Code For Portal Vein Thrombosis: Group Overview

I82-OTHER-VENOUS-EMBOLISM-AND-THROMBOSIS

ICD-10-CM Code For Other Venous Embolism And Thrombosis: Group Overview

I83-VARICOSE-VEINS-OF-LOWER-EXTREMITIES

ICD-10-CM Code For Varicose Veins Of Lower Extremities: Group Overview

I85-ESOPHAGEAL-VARICES

ICD-10-CM Code For Esophageal Varices: Group Overview

I86-VARICOSE-VEINS-OTHER-SITES

ICD-10-CM Code For Varicose Veins Of Other Sites: Group Overview

I87-OTHER-DISORDERS-OF-VEINS

ICD-10-CM Code For Other Disorders Of Veins: Group Overview

I89-OTHER-NONINFECTIVE-LYMPHATIC-DISORDERS

ICD-10-CM Code For Other Noninfective Disorders Of Lymphatic Vessels And Lymph Nodes: Group Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

4 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
I88.0	Nonspecific mesenteric lymphadenitis
I88.1	Chronic lymphadenitis, except mesenteric
I88.8	Other nonspecific lymphadenitis
I88.9	Nonspecific lymphadenitis, unspecified

DRG Codes

6 rows

DRG Code	Description
393	Other Digestive System Diagnoses with MCC
394	Other Digestive System Diagnoses with CC
395	Other Digestive System Diagnoses without CC/MCC
814	Reticuloendothelial and Immunity Disorders with MCC
815	Reticuloendothelial and Immunity Disorders with CC
816	Reticuloendothelial and Immunity Disorders without CC/MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An otherwise healthy adult presents to urgent care with a rapidly tender, swollen lymph node in the right cervical region following a recent upper respiratory infection; physical exam shows localized warmth and pain without systemic sepsis. The clinician documents acute nonspecific lymphadenitis of the cervical chain after ruling out specific infectious causes and orders short-course antibiotics and outpatient follow-up, resulting in assignment of an acute nonspecific lymphadenitis code. Typical codes: I88.0, I88.9
An elderly patient with a history of chronic skin breakdown on the lower leg develops persistent, non-tender inguinal lymph node enlargement discovered during a routine primary care visit; there is no clear malignancy or identified organism on initial testing and the enlargement has been present for several weeks. Because the presentation represents a subacute to chronic nonspecific lymphadenitis likely related to chronic local inflammation, a nonspecific lymphadenitis code reflecting chronicity or unspecified site is used for ongoing evaluation and management. Typical codes: I88.1, I88.9
A hospitalized patient with documented bacteremia from a soft tissue infection develops multifocal tender lymphadenopathy and lymph node inflammation as a complication of the systemic infection; imaging and culture do not identify a specific granulomatous or neoplastic cause. The inpatient team documents lymphadenitis as a complication of the systemic infection and assigns a nonspecific lymphadenitis diagnosis to capture the inflammatory complication. Typical codes: I88.8, I88.9

Related Codes

I80-PHLEBITIS-AND-THROMBOPHLEBITIS

ICD-10-CM Code For Phlebitis And Thrombophlebitis: Group Overview

I81-PORTAL-VEIN-THROMBOSIS

ICD-10-CM Code For Portal Vein Thrombosis: Group Overview

I82-OTHER-VENOUS-EMBOLISM-AND-THROMBOSIS

ICD-10-CM Code For Other Venous Embolism And Thrombosis: Group Overview

I83-VARICOSE-VEINS-OF-LOWER-EXTREMITIES

ICD-10-CM Code For Varicose Veins Of Lower Extremities: Group Overview

I85-ESOPHAGEAL-VARICES

ICD-10-CM Code For Esophageal Varices: Group Overview

I86-VARICOSE-VEINS-OTHER-SITES

ICD-10-CM Code For Varicose Veins Of Other Sites: Group Overview

I87-OTHER-DISORDERS-OF-VEINS

ICD-10-CM Code For Other Disorders Of Veins: Group Overview

I89-OTHER-NONINFECTIVE-LYMPHATIC-DISORDERS

ICD-10-CM Code For Other Noninfective Disorders Of Lymphatic Vessels And Lymph Nodes: Group Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

ICD-10-CM Code For Nonspecific Lymphadenitis: Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Nonspecific Lymphadenitis: Group Overview policy alerts

ICD-10-CM I88: Nonspecific Lymphadenitis Overview

ICD-10-CM Code For Nonspecific Lymphadenitis: Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Nonspecific Lymphadenitis: Group Overview policy alerts

ICD-10-CM I88: Nonspecific Lymphadenitis Overview

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which diagnoses are included in ICD-10-CM group `I88`?

How does accurate coding within `I88` support billing and reimbursement?

What clinical scenarios are documented using `I88` group codes?

Which related DRGs may be associated with diagnoses from the `I88` group?

What aspects of clinical documentation are important when assigning an `I88` code?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which diagnoses are included in ICD-10-CM group `I88`?

How does accurate coding within `I88` support billing and reimbursement?

What clinical scenarios are documented using `I88` group codes?

Which related DRGs may be associated with diagnoses from the `I88` group?

What aspects of clinical documentation are important when assigning an `I88` code?

References