AAPC Certified Professional Coder (CPC) CPC Exam Questions

Page: 1 / 14
Total 354 questions
Question 1

Preoperative diagnosis: Right thigh benign congenital hairy nevus. *1

Postoperative diagnosis: Right thigh benign congenital hairy 0 nevus.

Operation performed: Excision of right thigh benign congenital>1

nevus, excision size with margins 4.5 cm and closure size 5 cm.

Anesthesia: General.0

Intraoperative antibiotics: Ancef.0

Indications: The patient is a 5-year-old girl who presented with her parents for evaluation of her right thigh congenital nevus. It has been followed by pediatrics and thought to have changed over the past year. Family requested excision. They understood the risks involved, which included but were not limited to risks of general

anesthesia, infection, bleeding, wound dehiscence, and poor scar formation. They understood the scar would likely widen as the child grows because of the location of it and because of the age of the patient. They consented to proceed.

Description of procedure: The patient was seen preoperatively in > I the holding area, identified, and then brought to the operating room. Once adequate general anesthesia had been induced, the patient's right thigh was prepped and draped in standard surgical fashion. An elliptical excision measuring 6 x 1.8 cm had been marked. This was injected with Lidocaine with epinephrine, total of 6 cc of 1% with 1:100,000. After an adequate amount of time, a #15 blade was used to sharply excise this full thickness.

This was passed to pathology for review. The wound required limited undermining in the deep subcutaneous plane on both sides for approximately 1.5 cm in order to allow mobilization of the skin for closure. The skin was then closed in a layered fashion using 3-0 Vicryl on the dermis and then 4-0 Monocryl running subcuticular in the skin, the wound was cleaned and dressed with Dermabond and Steri-Strips.

The patient was then cleaned and turned over to anesthesia for S extubation.

She was extubated successfully in the operating room and taken S to the recovery room in stable condition. There were no complications.

What CPT and ICD-10-CM code is reported?



Answer : B

99242 = Outpatient consultation, moderate complexity

L93.1 = Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus

R21 = Rash (allowed as secondary symptom)


Question 2

Which one of the following terms refers to inflammation of the liver?



Answer : C

Medical terms often consist of a root word and a suffix.

Hepat/o = liver

-itis = inflammation

Therefore, hepatitis literally means inflammation of the liver.

The incorrect options refer to inflammation of other body parts:

Dermatitis -- inflammation of the skin

Gastritis -- inflammation of the stomach

Arthritis -- inflammation of the joints

Hence, the correct answer is C. Hepatitis.


Question 3

An otolaryngologist performs a tympanoplasty with mastoidectomy, reconstruction of the posterior ear canal wall, and ossicular chain reconstruction.

What CPT code is reported?



Answer : C

69642 = Tympanoplasty with mastoidectomy and ossicular chain reconstruction

Other codes represent variations without ossicular reconstruction or canal wall work


Question 4

A 42-year-old male is diagnosed with a left renal mass. Patient is placed under general anesthesia and in prone position. A periumbilical incision is made and a trocar inserted. A laparoscope is inserted and advanced to the operative site. The left kidney is removed, along with part of the left ureter. What CPT code is reported for this procedure?



Answer : C

Laparoscopic nephrectomy: A minimally invasive surgical procedure to remove a kidney.

Part of the ureter: Removal includes part of the ureter.

50220: Nephrectomy (open procedure), which doesn't apply since the procedure was laparoscopic.

50548: Nephrectomy, partial, laparoscopic, which doesn't match the full nephrectomy performed.

50543: Laparoscopy, surgical; nephrectomy with total ureterectomy.

50543 is the correct CPT code for the laparoscopic removal of the kidney along with part of the ureter, fitting the scenario described.


AMA's CPT Professional Edition (current year)

ICD-10-CM (current year), HCPCS Level II (current year)

Question 5

A temporary steroid-releasing sinus implant is placed in the ethmoid sinus.

What HCPCS Level II code is reported?



Answer : A

C2617 = Implant, sinus, drug-eluting, absorbable


Question 6

What is the muscular ring around a lumen that contracts to control flow through that lumen called?



Answer : C

A sphincter is a muscular ring that encircles a lumen (or passage) and contracts to control the flow of substances through it. Sphincters are found throughout the body in areas such as the gastrointestinal tract (e.g., the lower esophageal sphincter, pyloric sphincter, anal sphincter) and the urinary system (e.g., urethral sphincter), where they regulate the passage of food, waste, and other materials.

A . Stricture refers to an abnormal narrowing of a passage or duct in the body, often due to scarring or disease, not a muscular ring.

B . Snare is a surgical instrument, not a structure within the body.

D . Sinus refers to a cavity or channel within bone or tissue, unrelated to muscle control of flow.

Therefore, the correct answer is C. Sphincter.


Question 7

A 42-year-old male is diagnosed with a left renal mass. Patient is placed under general anesthesia and in prone position. A periumbilical incision is made, and a trocar inserted. A laparoscope is

inserted and advanced to the operative site. The left kidney is partially removed.

What CPT @ code is reported for this procedure?



Answer : C

1. Procedure and CPT Code Selection:

The patient underwent a partial nephrectomy (removal of part of the left kidney) via a laparoscopic approach.

CPT Code 50543 is specifically used for a laparoscopic partial nephrectomy, which is an accurate description of this procedure.

2. Rationale for Excluding Other Options:

Code 50548 is used for a laparoscopic radical nephrectomy, which involves the complete removal of the kidney and surrounding structures; therefore, it does not apply to this partial nephrectomy.

Code 50220 represents an open partial nephrectomy, not a laparoscopic approach, and is therefore incorrect for this procedure.

Code 50546 is for a laparoscopic radical nephrectomy with bilateral removal of kidneys, which is not applicable in this case where only a partial removal of the left kidney was performed.

3. AAPC and CPT Coding Guidelines:

AAPC and CPT guidelines indicate that the use of 50543 is appropriate for any laparoscopic partial nephrectomy, regardless of the laterality, and it specifically identifies laparoscopic technique over open surgery.

Therefore, based on CPT guidelines, the correct answer is C. 50543.


Page:    1 / 14   
Total 354 questions