CURRENTLY TESTING SOLUTIONS OF AAPC CPC EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH ACTUAL CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
A 46-year-old female had a previous biopsy that indicated positive malignant margins anteriorly on the
right side of her neck. A 0.5 cm margin was drawn out and a 15 blade scalpel was used for full excision of
an 8 cm lesion. Layered closure was performed after the removal. The specimen was sent for permanent
histopathologic examination. What are the CPT® code(s) for this procedure?
A. 11626
B. 11626, 12004-51
C. 11626, 12044-51
D. 11626, 13132-51, 13133 - ANSWER-C. 11626, 12044-51
A 30-year-old female is having 15 sq cm debridement performed on an infected ulcer with eschar on the
right foot. Using sharp dissection, the ulcer was debrided all the way to down to the bone of the foot.
The bone had to be minimally trimmed because of a sharp point at the end of the metatarsal. After
debriding the area, there was minimal bleeding because of very poor circulation of the foot. It seems
that the toes next to the ulcer may have some involvement and cultures were taken. The area was
dressed with sterile saline and dressings and then wrapped. What CPT® code should be reported?
A. 11043
B. 11012
C. 11044
D. 11042 - ANSWER-C. 11044
,A 64-year-old female who has multiple sclerosis fell from her walker and landed on a glass table. She
lacerated her forehead, cheek and chin and the total length of these lacerations was 6 cm. Her right arm
and left leg had deep cuts measuring 5 cm on each extremity. Her right hand and right foot had a total of
3 cm lacerations. The ED physician repaired the lacerations as follows: The forehead, cheek, and chin had
debridement and cleaning of glass debris with the lacerations being closed with one layer closure, 6-0
Prolene sutures. The arm and leg were repaired by layered closure, 6-0 Vicryl subcutaneous sutures and
Prolene sutures on the skin. The hand and foot were closed with adhesive strips. Select the appropriate
procedure codes for this visit.
A. 99283-25, 12014, 12034-59, 12002-59, 11042-51
B. 99283-25, 12053, 12034-59, 12002-59
C. 99283-25, 12014, 12034-59, 11042-51
D. 99283-25, 12053, 12034-59 - ANSWER-D. 99283-25, 12053, 12034-59
A 52-year-old female has a mass growing on her right flank for several years. It has finally gotten
significantly larger and is beginning to bother her. She is brought to the Operating Room for definitive
excision. An incision was made directly overlying the mass. The mass was down into the subcutaneous
tissue and the surgeon encountered a well encapsulated lipoma approximately 4 centimeters. This was
excised primarily bluntly with a few attachments divided with electrocautery. What CPT® and ICD-10-CM
codes are reported?
A. 21932, D17.39
B. 21935, D17.1
C. 21931, D17.1
D. 21925, D17.9 - ANSWER-C. 21931, D17.1
Question 5
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; anesthesia having been administered. The right upper extremity was prepped and
draped in a sterile manner. The limb was elevated, exsanguinated, and a pneumatic arm tourniquet was
elevated. An incision was made over the dorsal radial aspect of the right wrist. Skin flaps were elevated.
Cutaneous nerve branches were identified and very gently retracted. The interval between the second
and third dorsal compartment tendons was identified and entered. The respective tendons were
retracted. A dorsal capsulotomy incision was made, and the fracture was visualized. There did not
appear to be any type of significant defect at the fracture site. A 0.045 Kirschner wire was then used as a
guidewire, extending from t - ANSWER-A. 25628-RT
,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-of-eight plate was placed and
checked with X-ray. We then irrigated and closed the medial fascia with 0 Vicryl suture. The skin was
closed with 2-0 Vicryl and 3-0 Monocryl®. What procedure code is reported?
A. 27470-50
B. 27475-50
C. 27477-50
D. 27485-50 - ANSWER-D. 27485-50
The patient is a 67-year-old gentleman with metastatic colon cancer recently operated on for a brain
metastasis, now for placement of an Infuse-A-Port for continued chemotherapy. The left subclavian vein
was located with a needle and a guide wire placed. This was confirmed to be in the proper position
fluoroscopically. A transverse incision was made just inferior to this and a subcutaneous pocket created
just inferior to this. After tunneling, the introducer was placed over the guide wire and the power port
line was placed with the introducer and the introducer was peeled away. The tip was placed in the
appropriate position under fluoroscopic guidance and the catheter trimmed to the appropriate length
and secured to the power port device. The locking mechanism was fully engaged. The port was placed in
the subcutaneous pocket and everything sat very nicely fluoroscopically. It was secured to the underlying
soft tissue - ANSWER-C. 36561, 77001-26
Question 8
A CT scan identified moderate-sized right pleural effusion in a 50 year-old male. This was estimated to be
800 cc in size and had an appearance of fluid on the CT Scan. A needle is used to puncture through the
chest tissues and enter the pleural cavity to insert a guidewire under ultrasound guidance. A pigtail
catheter is then inserted at the length of the guidewire and secured by stitches. The catheter will remain
in the chest and is connected to drainage system to drain the accumulated fluid. The CPT® code is:
A. 32557
B. 32555
C. 32556
D. 32550 - ANSWER-A. 32557
The patient is a 59-year-old white male who underwent carotid endarterectomy for symptomatic left
carotid stenosis a year ago. A carotid CT angiogram showed a recurrent 90% left internal carotid artery
stenosis extending into the common carotid artery. He is taken to the operating room for re-do left
, carotid endarterectomy. The left neck was prepped and the previous incision was carefully reopened.
Using sharp dissection, the common carotid artery and its branches were dissected free. The patient was
systematically heparinized and after a few minutes, clamps were applied to the common carotid artery
and its branches. A longitudinal arteriotomy was carried out with findings of extensive layering of intimal
hyperplasia with no evidence of recurrent atherosclerosis. A silastic balloon-tip shunt was inserted first
proximally and then distally, with restoration of flow. Several layers of intima were removed and the
endart - ANSWER-B. 35301, 35390
A 52-year-old patient is admitted to the hospital for chronic cholecystitis for which a laparoscopic
cholecystectomy will be performed. A transverse infraumbilical incision was made sharply dissecting to
the subcutaneous tissue down to the fascia using access under direct vision with a Vesi-Port and a scope
was placed into the abdomen. Three other ports were inserted under direct vision. The fundus of the
gallbladder was grasped through the lateral port, where multiple adhesions to the gallbladder were
taken down sharply and bluntly: The gallbladder appeared chronically inflamed. Dissection was carried
out to the right of this identifying a small cystic duct and artery, was clipped twice proximally, once
distally and transected. The gallbladder was then taken down from the bed using electrocautery,
delivering it into an endo-bag and removing it from the abdominal cavity with the umbilical port. What
CPT® and ICD-10-C - ANSWER-B. 47562, K81.1
A 70-year-old female who has a history of symptomatic ventral hernia was advised to undergo
laparoscopic evaluation and repair. An incision was made in the epigastrium and dissection was carried
down through the subcutaneous tissue. Two 5-mm trocars were placed, one in the left upper quadrant
and one in the left lower quadrant and the laparoscope was inserted. Dissection was carried down to the
area of the hernia where a small defect was clearly visualized. There was some omentum, which was
adhered to the hernia and this was delivered back into the peritoneal cavity. The mesh was tacked on to
cover the defect. What procedure code(s) is (are) reported?
A. 49560, 49568
B. 49652
C. 49653
D. 49652, 49568 - ANSWER-B. 49652
The patient is a 50-year-old gentleman who presented to the emergency room with signs and symptoms
of acute appendicitis with possible rupture. He has been brought to the operating room. An
infraumbilical incision was made which a 5-mm VersaStep™ trocar was inserted. A 5-mm 0- degree
laparoscope was introduced. A second 5-mm trocar was placed suprapubically and a 12-mm trocar in the
left lower quadrant. A window was made in the mesoappendix using blunt dissection with no rupture
noted. The base of the appendix was then divided and placed into an Endo-catch bag and the 12-mm
defect was brought out. Select the appropriate code for this procedure:
