Prep and Practice Exam: CPC Test
Questions and Answers 2025| 100%
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A 46-year-old female previously had a biopsy revealing positive malignant margins anteriorly on
the right side of her neck. A 0.5 cm margin was marked, and a 15 blade scalpel was used to fully
excise an 8 cm lesion. After excision, a layered closure was performed, and the specimen was
sent for permanent histopathologic examination.
What CPT code(s) should be reported for this procedure? 11626, 12044-51
Rationale:
Codes 11620 - 11626 apply to excisions of malignant lesions on the scalp, neck, hands, feet, and
genitalia. Given the total excision size of 8.5 cm (including margins), 11626 is the correct choice.
Since the repair was layered, it qualifies as an intermediate repair, which must be reported
separately. Codes 12041-12047 cover intermediate repairs of wounds on the neck, scalp, hands,
feet, and/or genitals. With an 8.5 cm repair, 12044 is the correct code, and modifier "-51" is used
to indicate multiple procedures.
A 30-year-old female requires 15 sq cm debridement of an infected ulcer with eschar on her right
foot. Sharp dissection was used to debride the ulcer down to the bone, with minimal trimming of
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,the bone due to a sharp point at the end of the metatarsal. After debridement, the area was
dressed with sterile saline and wrapped. Cultures were taken because the surrounding toes may
also be involved.
What CPT code should be reported? 11044
Rationale:
Codes 11042 - 11047 refer to debridement procedures, categorized by depth and the surface area
of tissue removed. Since the ulcer was debrided to the bone with a 15 sq cm surface area, 11044
is the correct code.
A 64-year-old female with multiple sclerosis fell from her walker onto a glass table, resulting in
lacerations to her forehead, cheek, chin, right arm, left leg, right hand, and right foot. The total
length of the facial lacerations was 6 cm, with the arm and leg cuts measuring 5 cm each, and the
hand and foot lacerations totaling 3 cm. The lacerations were repaired with various methods,
including layered closure and adhesive strips.
What procedure codes should be reported for this visit? 99283-25, 12053, 12034-59
Rationale:
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,The CPT guidelines for wound closure state that adhesive strips as the sole repair material should
be coded using the appropriate E/M code. 99283 is the correct code, reflecting moderate
complexity, and modifier "-25" is applied to indicate a separately identifiable E/M service related
to the visit reason.
The facial lacerations, requiring debridement and cleaning of glass debris, qualify as
intermediate repairs, with a total length of 6 cm (12053). The lacerations on the right arm and left
leg, each measuring 5 cm, totaled 10 cm and also required intermediate repair (12034), with
modifier "-59" added to indicate distinct procedural services.
A 52-year-old female has a growing mass on her right flank that has become significantly larger
and bothersome. In the operating room, an incision was made over the mass, which was found to
be a well-encapsulated lipoma approximately 4 cm in size. The lipoma was excised primarily by
blunt dissection, with a few attachments divided using electrocautery.
What CPT and ICD-10-CM codes are reported? 21931, D17.1
Rationale:
Since the lipoma was located in the subcutaneous tissue and measured 4 cm, 21931 is the
appropriate CPT code. The mass is identified as a lipoma, so the ICD-10-CM code for a
subcutaneous lipoma of the trunk is D17.1.
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, Preoperative Diagnosis: Right scaphoid fracture.
Type Of Procedure: Open reduction and internal fixation of right scaphoid fracture.
Description Of Procedure: The patient was brought to the operating room, and anesthesia was
administered. The right upper extremity was prepped and draped in a sterile manner, with the
limb elevated, exsanguinated, and a pneumatic arm tourniquet applied. An incision was made
over the dorsal radial aspect of the right wrist, and skin flaps were elevated. The cutaneous nerve
branches were identified and gently retracted. The interval between the second and third dorsal
compartment tendons was accessed and retracted. A dorsal capsulotomy incision was made, and
the fracture was visualized. There was no significant defect at the fracture site. A 0.045 Kirschner
wire was used as a guidewire, extending from the proximal.
What CPT code should be reported? 25628-RT
As treatment of the fracture was open, 25628 is apt as it also includes internal fixation without
manipulation ; modifier "-RT" is added to indicate the side of the body that received treatment.
An infant with genu valgum is brought to the operating room to have a bilateral medial distal
femur hemiepiphysiodesis done. On each knee, the C-arm was used to localize the growth plate.
With the growth plate localized, an incision was made medially on both sides. This was taken
down to the fascia, which was opened. The periosteum was not opened. The Orthofix® figure-
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