G96.01 Cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak, spontaneous

The ICD-10-CM code for Cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak, spontaneous is G96.01 (FY2026). It is a billable, claim-ready diagnosis code.

Classification

Chapter

6: Diseases of the nervous system (G00-G99)

Section

G89-G99: Other disorders of the nervous system (G89-G99)

Category G96

20 codes (14 billable)

FY2026 Status

Stable since FY2024

Also Known As

ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index entries that lead to G96.01:

• Rhinorrhea › cerebrospinal (fluid)
• Otorrhea › cerebrospinal (fluid)
• Otorrhea › cerebrospinal (fluid) › spontaneous
• Rhinorrhea › cerebrospinal (fluid) › spontaneous
• Leak, leakage › cerebrospinal fluid › cranial › spontaneous
• Leak, leakage › cerebrospinal fluid › spontaneous › from › skull base

Inclusion Terms

• Otorrhea due to spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid CSF leak
• Rhinorrhea due to spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid CSF leak
• Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak from skull base

U.S. Hospital Utilization

• An estimated 3,145 U.S. inpatient stays in 2023 included G96.01 among the documented diagnoses.
• 1,150 stays listed it as the principal diagnosis.

Source: National Inpatient Sample (NIS), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2016–2023. National survey-weighted estimates.

Official Coding Guidelines

Dominant/nondominant side (TOC entry)

a. Dominant/nondominant side ................................................................................................. 45

Pain - Category G89 (TOC entry)

b. Pain - Category G89.............................................................................................................. 45

Source: CMS — ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY2026

References

• CMS — ICD-10-CM Official Code Set and Guidelines, FY2026
• CDC/NCHS — ICD-10-CM Files and Browser Tool
• AHRQ — HCUP National Inpatient Sample, Frequencies by Diagnosis Code (2016–2023)

Cite This Page

Reference G96.01 with the canonical source and edition:

G96.01 — Cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak, spontaneous. ICD-10 Coding Pro (ICD-10-CM FY2026). https://icd10codingpro.com/codes/G96.01

Canonical URL: https://icd10codingpro.com/codes/G96.01