AAAM AIS CAISS -HEAD EXAM AND
PRACTICE EXAM 2026/2027 WITH ACTUAL
CORRECT QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
DETAILED ANSWERS |CURRENTLY TESTING
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS|ALREADY
GRADED A+|NEWEST |BRAND NEW
VERSION|JUST RELEASED!!
What is the difference between mild, moderate or severe brain edema or brain swelling?
**Note, while the degree definitions are the same, code appropriately between brain swelling
and brain edema
Mild: compressed ventricles without compressed brain stem cisterns Moderate: compressed
ventricles and brainstem cisterns Severe: absent ventricles or brainstem cisterns
T/F. there are codes for hypoxic or ischemic brain damage secondary to systemic hypoxemia,
hypotension or shock not directly related to head trauma
True: however they have a severity of9
T/F: is there a restriction for coding pneumocephalus?
True, it must be directly related to head trauma
Name the skull bones that are coded to the skull base
Orbital roof, ethmoid, sphenoid, basilar process of occipital bone, petrous and mastoid portion
of the temporal bone and also the occipital condyle
What skull bones are coded to the vault?
The frontal, occipital, parietal and squamous portion of the temporal
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, What clinical findings can be used to corroborate a basilar skull fracture?
Hemotympanum, perforated tympanic membrane with blood in the canal, mastoid hematoma
also known as Battle's sign", CSF otorrhea, CSF rhinorrhea, periorbital ecchymosis a.k.a. raccoon
eyes"
Code penetrating injury to a specific anatomical structure (eg cerebrum, cerebellum, brain
stem) if this information is known. If specific site is not known or if more than one structure is
injured then code to penetrating injury under whole area. What is an important exception to
this?
Penetrating injury to the brain stem is an AIS 6 injury and should be coded under brain stem
even if two regions of the brain are involved.
What body region is supratentorial coded to?
Cerebrum/head
What body region is the interpeduncular fossa (cistern) basal cisterns coded to?
Brainstem; note Along" the tentorium, code to supratentorial (Cerebrum)"
Occipital Condyles are coded to the skull base or the vault?
Skull Base
Code all skull fractures under______ unless specified as base
Vault
True or false: certain findings including IVH, ischemic brain damage, SAH, and subpial
hemorrhage are not coded when a DAI diagnosis is confirmed
TRUE
DAI may be coded in what two sections in the head chapter?
In the cerebrum or concussive injury section. DAI that last more than 24 hours it's always coded
in the concussive injury section
2|Page
PRACTICE EXAM 2026/2027 WITH ACTUAL
CORRECT QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
DETAILED ANSWERS |CURRENTLY TESTING
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS|ALREADY
GRADED A+|NEWEST |BRAND NEW
VERSION|JUST RELEASED!!
What is the difference between mild, moderate or severe brain edema or brain swelling?
**Note, while the degree definitions are the same, code appropriately between brain swelling
and brain edema
Mild: compressed ventricles without compressed brain stem cisterns Moderate: compressed
ventricles and brainstem cisterns Severe: absent ventricles or brainstem cisterns
T/F. there are codes for hypoxic or ischemic brain damage secondary to systemic hypoxemia,
hypotension or shock not directly related to head trauma
True: however they have a severity of9
T/F: is there a restriction for coding pneumocephalus?
True, it must be directly related to head trauma
Name the skull bones that are coded to the skull base
Orbital roof, ethmoid, sphenoid, basilar process of occipital bone, petrous and mastoid portion
of the temporal bone and also the occipital condyle
What skull bones are coded to the vault?
The frontal, occipital, parietal and squamous portion of the temporal
1|Page
, What clinical findings can be used to corroborate a basilar skull fracture?
Hemotympanum, perforated tympanic membrane with blood in the canal, mastoid hematoma
also known as Battle's sign", CSF otorrhea, CSF rhinorrhea, periorbital ecchymosis a.k.a. raccoon
eyes"
Code penetrating injury to a specific anatomical structure (eg cerebrum, cerebellum, brain
stem) if this information is known. If specific site is not known or if more than one structure is
injured then code to penetrating injury under whole area. What is an important exception to
this?
Penetrating injury to the brain stem is an AIS 6 injury and should be coded under brain stem
even if two regions of the brain are involved.
What body region is supratentorial coded to?
Cerebrum/head
What body region is the interpeduncular fossa (cistern) basal cisterns coded to?
Brainstem; note Along" the tentorium, code to supratentorial (Cerebrum)"
Occipital Condyles are coded to the skull base or the vault?
Skull Base
Code all skull fractures under______ unless specified as base
Vault
True or false: certain findings including IVH, ischemic brain damage, SAH, and subpial
hemorrhage are not coded when a DAI diagnosis is confirmed
TRUE
DAI may be coded in what two sections in the head chapter?
In the cerebrum or concussive injury section. DAI that last more than 24 hours it's always coded
in the concussive injury section
2|Page
