AAPC CPC PRACTICE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
2025/2026
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 - ANS 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 - ANS C. 11044
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,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 - ANS 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 - ANS 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
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,defect at the fracture site. A 0.045 Kirschner wire was then used as a guidewire, extending from
t - ANS 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 - ANS 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 -
ANS 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
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, C. 32556
D. 32550 - ANS 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
- ANS 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 - ANS 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
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
2025/2026
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 - ANS 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 - ANS C. 11044
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,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 - ANS 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 - ANS 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
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,defect at the fracture site. A 0.045 Kirschner wire was then used as a guidewire, extending from
t - ANS 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 - ANS 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 -
ANS 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
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, C. 32556
D. 32550 - ANS 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
- ANS 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 - ANS 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
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
