AAPC Chapter 17: Radiology Test with Answers
Superior and inferior
RATIONALE: The axial plane, also
The axial plane divides the body into
known as the transverse plane, slices the
what sections?
body horizontally and cuts the body into
inferior and posterior sections.
Projection
The path of the X-ray beam is known as? RATIONALE: The projection is the path
the X-ray beam takes through the body.
R93.0, J32.9, J38.01
RATIONALE: The findings of the CT were
nonspecific and are not considered a
final diagnosis. The first diagnosis re-
A patient with sinusitis and left vocal
ports the nonspecific findings. Because
cord paralysis is sent for a CT scan
the findings were inconclusive, you also
of the brain. The impression is vague,
report the signs and symptoms for which
low-density white matter changes in the
the CT was ordered. In the ICD-10-CM
right frontal region. This is a nonspecific
Alphabetic Index, look for Findings, ab-
finding. The radiologist requests an MRI
normal, inconclusive, without diagno-
scan for further characterization. What
sis/radiologic (X-ray)/head R93.0. Next,
diagnosis code(s) should the radiologist
look in the Alphabetic Index for Sinusi-
report for the reading of the CT?
tis J32.9. The last code is found in the
Alphabetic Index under Paralysis/vocal
cords /unilateral J38.01. Verify code se-
lection in the Tabular List.
Z01.818
RATIONALE: The pre-operative exam is
a general preoperative exam. When an
A 63-year-old female is having a hip X-ray is performed as part of a gener-
arthroplasty due to severe rheumatoid al preoperative exam, ICD-10-CM code
arthritis in the hip. During her pre-oper- Z01.818 is reported. In the ICD-10-CM
ative exam, a chest X-ray is taken. What Alphabetic Index, look for Examina-
diagnosis is reported for the chest X-ray? tion/pre-operative - see Examination,
pre-procedural. Examination/pre-proce-
dural/specified NEC Z01.818. Verify
code selection in the Tabular List.
, AAPC Chapter 17: Radiology Test with Answers
70390-26, K11.4
RATIONALE: Contrast radiography of
the salivary gland and ducts is consid-
A contrast radiograph of the salivary ered sialography. Code 70390 describes
glands and ducts is performed, resulting sialography supervision and interpreta-
in a diagnosis of salivary fistula. What tion. Look in the CPT Index for Salivary
are the CPT and ICD-10-CM codes for Glands/X-ray/with contrast. The patient
the supervision and interpretation of this is diagnosed with a salivary fistula, which
procedure? is found in the ICD-10-CM Alphabetic In-
dex under Fistula/salivary duct or gland
K11.4. Verify code selection in the Tabu-
lar List.
70150
A patient presents to her physician with
RATIONALE: Three views of the fa-
right eye pain, nasal airway obstruction,
cial bones (Waters view, Caldwell view,
and deformity 48 hours after an assault.
and lateral view) were ordered. Look in
The physician orders an x-ray of the fa-
the CPT Index for X-ray/Facial Bones,
cial bones with a Waters view, Caldwell
70140-70150. Code 70150 is for a com-
view, and a lateral view. What is the CPT
plete, minimum of three views X-ray of
code for the X-ray?
the facial bones.
76775
RATIONALE: Look in the CPT Index for
Ultrasound/Kidney, 76770-76776. CPT
code 76776 is an ultrasound for a trans-
A complete B-scan ultrasound without
planted kidney, including real-time and
duplex Doppler of the kidney is per-
duplex Doppler with image documenta-
formed in the physician's office on a pa-
tion. A duplex Doppler of the kidney is
tient following a kidney transplant. What
not performed. The parenthetical instruc-
is the CPT code for the ultrasound?
tion under CPT 76776 indicates to report
76775 for an ultrasound of transplanted
kidney without duplex Doppler. The cor-
rect code is 76775.
76705
Response Feedback:
During a physical examination he-
RATIONALE: Ultrasound of the abdomen
patomegaly is revealed. The physician
includes the liver, gall bladder, common
orders an ultrasound of the liver to eval-
bile duct, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, and
the upper abdominal aorta and inferior
, AAPC Chapter 17: Radiology Test with Answers
vena cava. Because the ultrasound was
uate the hepatomegaly. What CPT code of only the liver, it is considered a limited
is reported? abdominal ultrasound. Look in the CPT
Index for Ultrasound/Abdomen.
77778
RATIONALE: In this case, brachytherapy
is performed using interstitial application
A male patient being treated for prostate of radiation seeds. According to the Radi-
cancer receives brachytherapy treat- ology Guidelines, a complex application
ment. Twelve radioactive seeds are inter- has greater than 10 sources, which is
stitially applied within the prostate. What reported with code 77778. Review the
is the CPT code for the radiological com- CPT coding guidelines for the definition
ponent? of simple, intermediate, and complex for
clinical brachytherapy. Look in the CPT
Index for Brachytherapy/Interstitial Appli-
cation 0395T, 77778.
77080
RATIONALE: DXA is dual-energy X-ray
A patient with osteoporosis reports to her absorption. The site is of the spine, which
physician's office for a DXA bone density is part of the axial skeleton. For DXA-See
study of her spine to monitor the severity Dual X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA); Dual
of her condition. What is the correct CPT X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA)/Axial Skele-
code for the DXA scan? ton. In this case one site (spine) is in-
volved in the study. The correct code is
77080.
CASE 1
Location: Regional Hospital(Performed
at the hospital, the radiologist will only
code for the professional component.)
CT THORAX W/CONTRAST,CT AB-
DOMEN W/CONTRAST,CT PELVIS
W/CONTRAST,Low Osmolar Contrast
(Three separate CT scan performed:
Thorax (chest), Abdomen, Pelvis)
EXAM: CT Chest with Contrast; CT Ab-
