2
NCCQ theory past exam questions with accurate detailed || || || || || || || ||
solutions
In ICD-10 5th Edition, what two terms are associated with the use of fifth characters when
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
coding fractured bones, and of these what must be recorded if the type is not indicated? [3
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
Marks] - ✔✔'Open' and 'closed' || || || || ||
An injury not indicated as 'open' or 'closed' must be recorded using fifth character '0'
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
In relation to the co-morbidities standard in ICD-10 5th Edition, why will acute conditions
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
always be coded? - ✔✔Acute conditions will always affect the patient's episode of care
|| || || || || || || || || || || || ||
Which one of the following options must an injury be described as to be classified to ICD-10
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
5th Edition Chapter XIII Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue?
|| || || || || || || || || || || ||
A. Acute, old or recurrent
|| || || ||
B. Acute, subacute or recurrent
|| || || || ||
C. Chronic, old or recurrent - ✔✔C. Chronic, old or recurrent
|| || || || || || || || || ||
Codes in categories U00-U49 are reserved by the WHO for provisional assignment in what
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
situations? [2 Marks] - ✔✔New diseases of uncertain aetiology or emergency use
|| || || || || || || || || || ||
When is it permissible to assign ICD-10 5th Edition fourth character codes for 'multiple
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
injuries' in Chapter XIX Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external
|| || || || || || || || || || || ||
causes? [3 Marks] - ✔✔Only where no detail is documented in the medical record about the
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
individual sites or types of the injury
|| || || || || || ||
Name the five columns of the 'neoplasm table' found in Volume 3 Alphabetical Index of
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
ICD-10 5th Edition related to behaviour. [5 Marks] - ✔✔Malignant primary
|| || || || || || || || || || ||
,2
Malignant secondary ||
In situ
|| ||
Benign ||
Uncertain or unknown behaviour || || ||
In ICD-10 5th Edition, the dagger and asterisk system provides a dual classification of
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
diagnostic statements; what does each symbol represent? [2 Marks] - ✔✔The dagger (†)
|| || || || || || || || || || || || ||
represents the underlying generalised disease (also referred to as aetiology). The asterisk (*)
|| || || || || || || || || || || || ||
represents the manifestation of that disease || || || || ||
In ICD-10 5th Edition, anaemia must not be coded in what three neoplastic blood disorders
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
as it is a natural symptom in these conditions? [3 Marks] - ✔✔Leukaemia, myeloma and
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
myelodysplasia
In ICD-10 5th Edition, what are sequelae codes used to indicate? [2 Marks] - ✔✔They are
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
used to indicate that a current condition or disease has been caused by a previously
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
occurring disease or injury which has been treated and is no longer present
|| || || || || || || || || || || ||
What punctuation is used in both the ICD-10 5th Edition Tabular List and the Alphabetical
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
Index to indicate there are fourth character subdivisions? - ✔✔Point-dash (.-)
|| || || || || || || || || ||
In OPCS-4, what does NOC stand for and in what chapter is it used? [2 Marks] - ✔✔NOC
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
stands for Not Otherwise Classifiable and is used only in the subsidiary Chapter Y.
|| || || || || || || || || || || || ||
Name the four Sections of the OPCS-4 Alphabetical Index. [4 Marks] - ✔✔(Alphabetical
|| || || || || || || || || || || || ||
Index of) Interventions and Surgical Procedures
|| || || || ||
(Alphabetical Index of Surgical) Eponyms || || || || ||
(Alphabetical Index of Surgical) Abbreviations || || || || ||
(Alphabetical Index of Common Surgical) Suffixes || || || || ||
,2
When and how are codes from OPCS-4 Chapter S Skin used to enhance a code from
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
another body system chapter? [3 Marks] - ✔✔The code from Chapter S must be assigned:
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
• When it provides further information about the procedure that is not specified in the
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
primary body system code. || || ||
|| • In a secondary position, directly after the body system code it is enhancing
|| || || || || || || || || || || || ||
Describe the OPCS-4 standard for coding excision and biopsy procedures. [4 Marks] -
|| || || || || || || || || || || || ||
✔✔When an excision and biopsy is performed on the same site during the same theatre
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
visit, only assign a code(s) for the excision, as a biopsy is an integral part of the excision
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
In which position must codes from OPCS-4 chapters Y Subsidiary Classification of Methods
|| || || || || || || || || || || || ||
of Operation and Z Subsidiary Classification of Sites of Operation be sequenced? - ✔✔They
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
must only ever be coded in a secondary position
|| || || || || || || ||
In OPCS-4, how should a 'failed intubation' at an upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy be
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
reflected in the coded clinical record? [2 Marks] - ✔✔The procedure must not be coded
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
unless the point of abandonment is beyond the mouth
|| || || || || || || ||
What is the main axis of classification within OPCS-4 and what are the four levels of
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
complexity associated with it? [5 Marks] - ✔✔The main axis of the classification is body
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
system. The four levels of complexity are major, intermediate, minor and non-operative
|| || || || || || || || || || ||
To maintain the structure of the OPCS-4 classification, .8 and .9 codes are available in both
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
principal and extended categories, but from which one of these is it acceptable to assign .8
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
and .9 codes? - ✔✔Principal categories
|| || || || ||
Describe the standard when coding multiple deliveries (e.g. twins, triplets) in OPCS-4
|| || || || || || || || || || || ||
Chapter R Female Genital Tract Associated with Pregnancy, Childbirth and Puerperium. [3
|| || || || || || || || || || || ||
, 2
Marks] - ✔✔Each different type of delivery must be recorded with the most serious being
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
sequenced first. Where all methods of delivery are identical, only one code is required
|| || || || || || || || || || || || ||
Where an unintentional action, such as perforation of an organ, occurs during a procedure,
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
how should this be reflected in the coded clinical record? The answer should reflect both
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
ICD-10 5th Edition and OPCS-4. [3 Marks] - ✔✔This unintentional action must not be
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
recorded using OPCS-4 codes. Any surgical procedures performed to correct the
|| || || || || || || || || || ||
unintentional action must be recorded using the appropriate OPCS-4 code(s). Any || || || || || || || || || || ||
associated diagnosis resulting from the unintentional action, e.g. accidental perforation of
|| || || || || || || || || || ||
organ, will be coded using the appropriate ICD-10 code(s)
|| || || || || || || ||
In ICD-10 5th Edition, what is the primary diagnosis definition? [7 Marks] - ✔✔The first
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
diagnosis field(s) of the coded clinical record (the primary diagnosis) will contain the main
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
condition treated or investigated during the relevant episode of healthcare. Where a
|| || || || || || || || || || || ||
definitive diagnosis has not been made by the responsible clinician the main symptom,
|| || || || || || || || || || || || ||
abnormal findings, or problem should be recorded in the first diagnosis field of the coded
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
clinical record ||
ICD: Describe the rule in relation to code structure when a three character category is not
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
subdivided into four character subdivisions, and why this is used. [5 Marks] - ✔✔The 'X'
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
filler must be assigned in the fourth character field so the codes are of a standard length for
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
data processing and validation. Where a three character code requires assignment of both
|| || || || || || || || || || || || ||
the 'X' filler and a fifth character subdivision, the 'X' filler must continue to be recorded in
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
the fourth field before the fifth character
|| || || || || ||
ICD: Describe the purpose of 'Use' notes in Volume 1 Tabular List and when the convention
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
must be applied. [3 Marks] - ✔✔The 'use' note is a specific instruction to use an additional
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
code in order to describe a condition more completely. The 'use' note is never optional and
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
must always be adhered to where the information is available in the medical record.
|| || || || || || || || || || || || ||
OPCS: Describe the uses of the 'Note' instruction. [5 Marks] - ✔✔• To advise coders to
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
include or omit additional or subsidiary codes.
|| || || || || || ||
NCCQ theory past exam questions with accurate detailed || || || || || || || ||
solutions
In ICD-10 5th Edition, what two terms are associated with the use of fifth characters when
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
coding fractured bones, and of these what must be recorded if the type is not indicated? [3
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
Marks] - ✔✔'Open' and 'closed' || || || || ||
An injury not indicated as 'open' or 'closed' must be recorded using fifth character '0'
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
In relation to the co-morbidities standard in ICD-10 5th Edition, why will acute conditions
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
always be coded? - ✔✔Acute conditions will always affect the patient's episode of care
|| || || || || || || || || || || || ||
Which one of the following options must an injury be described as to be classified to ICD-10
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
5th Edition Chapter XIII Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue?
|| || || || || || || || || || || ||
A. Acute, old or recurrent
|| || || ||
B. Acute, subacute or recurrent
|| || || || ||
C. Chronic, old or recurrent - ✔✔C. Chronic, old or recurrent
|| || || || || || || || || ||
Codes in categories U00-U49 are reserved by the WHO for provisional assignment in what
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
situations? [2 Marks] - ✔✔New diseases of uncertain aetiology or emergency use
|| || || || || || || || || || ||
When is it permissible to assign ICD-10 5th Edition fourth character codes for 'multiple
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
injuries' in Chapter XIX Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external
|| || || || || || || || || || || ||
causes? [3 Marks] - ✔✔Only where no detail is documented in the medical record about the
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
individual sites or types of the injury
|| || || || || || ||
Name the five columns of the 'neoplasm table' found in Volume 3 Alphabetical Index of
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
ICD-10 5th Edition related to behaviour. [5 Marks] - ✔✔Malignant primary
|| || || || || || || || || || ||
,2
Malignant secondary ||
In situ
|| ||
Benign ||
Uncertain or unknown behaviour || || ||
In ICD-10 5th Edition, the dagger and asterisk system provides a dual classification of
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
diagnostic statements; what does each symbol represent? [2 Marks] - ✔✔The dagger (†)
|| || || || || || || || || || || || ||
represents the underlying generalised disease (also referred to as aetiology). The asterisk (*)
|| || || || || || || || || || || || ||
represents the manifestation of that disease || || || || ||
In ICD-10 5th Edition, anaemia must not be coded in what three neoplastic blood disorders
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
as it is a natural symptom in these conditions? [3 Marks] - ✔✔Leukaemia, myeloma and
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
myelodysplasia
In ICD-10 5th Edition, what are sequelae codes used to indicate? [2 Marks] - ✔✔They are
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
used to indicate that a current condition or disease has been caused by a previously
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
occurring disease or injury which has been treated and is no longer present
|| || || || || || || || || || || ||
What punctuation is used in both the ICD-10 5th Edition Tabular List and the Alphabetical
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
Index to indicate there are fourth character subdivisions? - ✔✔Point-dash (.-)
|| || || || || || || || || ||
In OPCS-4, what does NOC stand for and in what chapter is it used? [2 Marks] - ✔✔NOC
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
stands for Not Otherwise Classifiable and is used only in the subsidiary Chapter Y.
|| || || || || || || || || || || || ||
Name the four Sections of the OPCS-4 Alphabetical Index. [4 Marks] - ✔✔(Alphabetical
|| || || || || || || || || || || || ||
Index of) Interventions and Surgical Procedures
|| || || || ||
(Alphabetical Index of Surgical) Eponyms || || || || ||
(Alphabetical Index of Surgical) Abbreviations || || || || ||
(Alphabetical Index of Common Surgical) Suffixes || || || || ||
,2
When and how are codes from OPCS-4 Chapter S Skin used to enhance a code from
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
another body system chapter? [3 Marks] - ✔✔The code from Chapter S must be assigned:
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
• When it provides further information about the procedure that is not specified in the
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
primary body system code. || || ||
|| • In a secondary position, directly after the body system code it is enhancing
|| || || || || || || || || || || || ||
Describe the OPCS-4 standard for coding excision and biopsy procedures. [4 Marks] -
|| || || || || || || || || || || || ||
✔✔When an excision and biopsy is performed on the same site during the same theatre
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
visit, only assign a code(s) for the excision, as a biopsy is an integral part of the excision
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
In which position must codes from OPCS-4 chapters Y Subsidiary Classification of Methods
|| || || || || || || || || || || || ||
of Operation and Z Subsidiary Classification of Sites of Operation be sequenced? - ✔✔They
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
must only ever be coded in a secondary position
|| || || || || || || ||
In OPCS-4, how should a 'failed intubation' at an upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy be
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
reflected in the coded clinical record? [2 Marks] - ✔✔The procedure must not be coded
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
unless the point of abandonment is beyond the mouth
|| || || || || || || ||
What is the main axis of classification within OPCS-4 and what are the four levels of
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
complexity associated with it? [5 Marks] - ✔✔The main axis of the classification is body
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
system. The four levels of complexity are major, intermediate, minor and non-operative
|| || || || || || || || || || ||
To maintain the structure of the OPCS-4 classification, .8 and .9 codes are available in both
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
principal and extended categories, but from which one of these is it acceptable to assign .8
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
and .9 codes? - ✔✔Principal categories
|| || || || ||
Describe the standard when coding multiple deliveries (e.g. twins, triplets) in OPCS-4
|| || || || || || || || || || || ||
Chapter R Female Genital Tract Associated with Pregnancy, Childbirth and Puerperium. [3
|| || || || || || || || || || || ||
, 2
Marks] - ✔✔Each different type of delivery must be recorded with the most serious being
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
sequenced first. Where all methods of delivery are identical, only one code is required
|| || || || || || || || || || || || ||
Where an unintentional action, such as perforation of an organ, occurs during a procedure,
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
how should this be reflected in the coded clinical record? The answer should reflect both
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
ICD-10 5th Edition and OPCS-4. [3 Marks] - ✔✔This unintentional action must not be
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
recorded using OPCS-4 codes. Any surgical procedures performed to correct the
|| || || || || || || || || || ||
unintentional action must be recorded using the appropriate OPCS-4 code(s). Any || || || || || || || || || || ||
associated diagnosis resulting from the unintentional action, e.g. accidental perforation of
|| || || || || || || || || || ||
organ, will be coded using the appropriate ICD-10 code(s)
|| || || || || || || ||
In ICD-10 5th Edition, what is the primary diagnosis definition? [7 Marks] - ✔✔The first
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
diagnosis field(s) of the coded clinical record (the primary diagnosis) will contain the main
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
condition treated or investigated during the relevant episode of healthcare. Where a
|| || || || || || || || || || || ||
definitive diagnosis has not been made by the responsible clinician the main symptom,
|| || || || || || || || || || || || ||
abnormal findings, or problem should be recorded in the first diagnosis field of the coded
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
clinical record ||
ICD: Describe the rule in relation to code structure when a three character category is not
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
subdivided into four character subdivisions, and why this is used. [5 Marks] - ✔✔The 'X'
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
filler must be assigned in the fourth character field so the codes are of a standard length for
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
data processing and validation. Where a three character code requires assignment of both
|| || || || || || || || || || || || ||
the 'X' filler and a fifth character subdivision, the 'X' filler must continue to be recorded in
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
the fourth field before the fifth character
|| || || || || ||
ICD: Describe the purpose of 'Use' notes in Volume 1 Tabular List and when the convention
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
must be applied. [3 Marks] - ✔✔The 'use' note is a specific instruction to use an additional
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
code in order to describe a condition more completely. The 'use' note is never optional and
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
must always be adhered to where the information is available in the medical record.
|| || || || || || || || || || || || ||
OPCS: Describe the uses of the 'Note' instruction. [5 Marks] - ✔✔• To advise coders to
|| || || || || || || || || || || || || || || ||
include or omit additional or subsidiary codes.
|| || || || || || ||
