AAPC Certified Professional Coder (CPC) CPC Exam Practice Test

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Total 100 questions
Question 1

Where is a Warthin's tumor found?



Answer : C

Warthin's tumor, also known as papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum, is a benign tumor of the salivary glands, most commonly affecting the parotid gland. It typically presents as a painless, slow-growing mass near the angle of the jaw. Reference: ICD-10-CM, medical dictionaries, and oncology textbooks


Question 2

The gastroenterologist performs a simple excision of three external hemorrhoids and one internal hemorrhoid, each lying along the left lateral column. The operative report indicates that the internal hemorrhoid is not prolapsed and is outside of the anal canal.

What CPT and ICD-10CM codes are reported?



Answer : C

CPT code 46255 describes the excision of both internal and external hemorrhoids, which matches the procedure described. The ICD-10-CM codes K64.0 (First degree hemorrhoids) and K64.4 (Residual hemorrhoids) describe the conditions treated.


AMA's CPT Professional Edition (current year), Code 46255

ICD-10-CM (current year), Codes K64.0, K64.4

Question 3

The documentation states:

He was then sterilely prepped and draped along the flank and abdomen in the usual sterile fashion. I first made a skin incision off the tip of the twelfth rib, extending medially along the banger's lines of the skin. This was approximately 3.5 cm in length. Once this incision was carried sharply, electrocautery was used to gain access through the external oblique, internal oblique, and transverse abdominis musculature and fascia.

What surgical approach was used for this procedure?



Answer : D

The documentation describes making a skin incision off the tip of the twelfth rib and extending medially along the banger's lines of the skin. The use of electrocautery to gain access through multiple layers of musculature and fascia indicates an open surgical approach. Open surgery involves making a large incision to expose and directly view the surgical site. This is distinct from percutaneous (which involves needles or catheters), laparoscopic (which uses small incisions and a camera), and other minimally invasive techniques. Reference: AMA's CPT Professional Edition, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II (current year)


Question 4

Patient has undergone open surgery for a left total knee arthroplasty. While in the recovery room, he continued to have severe postoperative pain. The surgeon ordered a femoral block for postoperative pain. The anesthesiologist evaluated the patient and performed a left femoral block, which provided significant post-operative pain relief.

What CPT coding is reported?



Answer : C

The patient has undergone a left total knee arthroplasty and subsequently received a femoral nerve block for postoperative pain management. CPT code 01402 is used for anesthesia for total knee arthroplasty. Code 64447-59-LT is for a femoral nerve block (single injection) for postoperative pain management, with modifier 59 indicating a distinct procedural service and LT indicating the left side. Therefore, the appropriate codes are 01402 and 64447-59-LT. Reference: CPT Professional Edition (current year), AMA.


Question 5

An elderly patient comes into the emergency department (ED) with shortness of breath. An ECG is performed The final diagnosis at discharge is impending myocardial infarction.

According to ICD-10-CM guidelines, how is this reported?



Answer : D

Impending myocardial infarction is reported with I21.3 for a myocardial infarction (acute). The shortness of breath, which is a symptom, is coded separately as R06.02. According to ICD-10-CM guidelines, when a definitive diagnosis is established, the diagnosis code is sequenced first followed by symptom codes. Reference: ICD-10-CM (current year), Chapter 9: Diseases of the Circulatory System (I00-I99), ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, Section I.C.9.e.4.


Question 6

The outermost protective layer of skin is called the:



Answer : A

The outermost protective layer of the skin is called the epidermis. It serves as a barrier to protect the body against environmental elements, pathogens, and helps to retain moisture. The epidermis itself is composed of several sub-layers, with the stratum corneum being the outermost layer. Reference: ICD-10-CM (current year), Chapter 12: Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue (L00-L99).


Question 7

In rhinoplasty:



Answer : A

Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure performed to reconstruct or reshape the nose. It can be done for cosmetic reasons or to improve breathing function. The term 'rhino' refers to the nose, and 'plasty' refers to the surgical molding or forming of a part of the body. Reference: AMA's CPT Professional Edition, medical dictionaries


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Total 100 questions