Acute mastoiditis without complications, left ear

This code signifies an acute inflammatory process of the mastoid air cells, specifically affecting the left ear, without any associated complications such as facial paralysis, intracranial abscess, or labyrinthitis. It represents an infection that has not spread beyond the mastoid bone itself.

Assign this code when documentation clearly indicates a diagnosis of acute mastoiditis localized to the left ear, with no mention of complications. Supporting documentation would include physician notes detailing symptoms like postauricular pain, swelling, erythema, and fever, along with imaging results (e.g., CT scan) confirming mastoid inflammation without evidence of intracranial or intratemporal spread.

• Ensure the documentation explicitly states "without complications" or provides no evidence of complications.
• Distinguish from chronic mastoiditis (H70.1-) and mastoiditis with complications (H70.01-).
• Always verify laterality (left ear) to avoid coding errors.