Recur cholesteatoma of postmastoidectomy cavity, right ear

This code signifies the regrowth of a cholesteatoma within the mastoid cavity after a previous mastoidectomy, specifically affecting the right ear. A cholesteatoma is an abnormal, non-cancerous skin growth that can develop in the middle ear and mastoid bone, potentially causing bone erosion and hearing loss.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates a recurrent cholesteatoma identified in the right mastoidectomy cavity. This typically occurs following a prior surgical intervention to remove a cholesteatoma. Supporting documentation would include operative reports, imaging studies (e.g., CT scan), and physician notes detailing the recurrence.

• Ensure the documentation explicitly states "recurrent" and specifies the "right ear" and "postmastoidectomy cavity."
• Do not confuse this with initial cholesteatoma diagnoses or cholesteatomas occurring in other ear structures.
• Always review the operative report for details on the previous mastoidectomy and the current finding of recurrence.