Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) Exam Prep
Questions -AHIMA 6th Edition Questions &
Answers
1.Carcinoma in situ:
Answer Tumor cells that are undergoing malignant changes but are still
confined to the point of origin without invasion of the surrounding
normal tissue
2.Examples of carcinoma in situ:
Answer Intraepithelial infiltrating
3.The patient was admitted from the emergency department because of
chest pain. Following blood work, it was determined that the patient had
elevated CPKs and MB enzymes. The EKG shows nonspecific ST changes.
What type of diagnosis might this indicate?
a. Unstable angina
b. Myocardial infarction
c. Congestive heart failure
d. Mitral valve stenosis
Answer: b
The CPK elevation with MB enzymes elevated and the EKG ST changes
denote a possible Ml (Leon-Chisen 2013, 386-387).
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,4.A patient is admitted and diagnosed with fever and urinary burning.
The discharge diagnosis· is Escherichia coli, urinary tract infection.
Which of the following represents the correct diagnoses and appropriate
sequence of those conditions?
a. Fever, urinary burning, urosepsis
b. Fever, urinary burning, sepsis
c. Escherichia coli, urinary tract infection
d. Urinary tract infection, Escherichia coli
Answer: d
Symptoms are not coded when a definitive diagnosis is present on
discharge. The patient discharge diagnosis of urinary tract infection. The
organism (E. coli) is coded with a seco diagnosis code (B96.20) which is
to be added as an additional code to identify the bacterial agent (HHS
2014, Section II.A., 98).
5.A patient was admitted with heart failure within one week of a heart trans-
plant. Due to the timing, the coder thought that it may represent a
postopera- tive transplant rejection following heart transplant.
What action(s) should the coding staff take?
a. Query the physician.
b. Assign the codes for the postoperative transplant rejection.
c. Assign only the code for the transplant rejection.
d. Assign only the code for heart failure.
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, Answer: a
When the documentation is not clear regarding a potential complication,
it is ap-
propriate query the physician (HHS 2014, Section I.B.16, 16; Leon-
Chisen 2013, 43-44).
6.A patient is admitted to a psychiatric unit of an acute-care facility. The
patient experienced the following symptoms almost every day for the last
month: loss of interest or pleasure in most or all activities, which is a
change from her prior level of functioning. She has also gained 15 lbs, has
difficulty falling asleep, feels fatigued, and has difficulty making decisions.
What potential diagnosis most closely fits the patient's overall symptoms?
a. Insomnia
b. Major depression
c. Reye's syndrome
d. Bipolar disorder
Answer: b
The symptoms provided are indicative of a depressive disorder (Leon-
Chisen 2013, 175).
7.Inpatient
Admission for inguinal hernia repair. This 30-year-old patient has acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) but is not symptomatic at this time due
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Questions -AHIMA 6th Edition Questions &
Answers
1.Carcinoma in situ:
Answer Tumor cells that are undergoing malignant changes but are still
confined to the point of origin without invasion of the surrounding
normal tissue
2.Examples of carcinoma in situ:
Answer Intraepithelial infiltrating
3.The patient was admitted from the emergency department because of
chest pain. Following blood work, it was determined that the patient had
elevated CPKs and MB enzymes. The EKG shows nonspecific ST changes.
What type of diagnosis might this indicate?
a. Unstable angina
b. Myocardial infarction
c. Congestive heart failure
d. Mitral valve stenosis
Answer: b
The CPK elevation with MB enzymes elevated and the EKG ST changes
denote a possible Ml (Leon-Chisen 2013, 386-387).
1/
28
,4.A patient is admitted and diagnosed with fever and urinary burning.
The discharge diagnosis· is Escherichia coli, urinary tract infection.
Which of the following represents the correct diagnoses and appropriate
sequence of those conditions?
a. Fever, urinary burning, urosepsis
b. Fever, urinary burning, sepsis
c. Escherichia coli, urinary tract infection
d. Urinary tract infection, Escherichia coli
Answer: d
Symptoms are not coded when a definitive diagnosis is present on
discharge. The patient discharge diagnosis of urinary tract infection. The
organism (E. coli) is coded with a seco diagnosis code (B96.20) which is
to be added as an additional code to identify the bacterial agent (HHS
2014, Section II.A., 98).
5.A patient was admitted with heart failure within one week of a heart trans-
plant. Due to the timing, the coder thought that it may represent a
postopera- tive transplant rejection following heart transplant.
What action(s) should the coding staff take?
a. Query the physician.
b. Assign the codes for the postoperative transplant rejection.
c. Assign only the code for the transplant rejection.
d. Assign only the code for heart failure.
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28
, Answer: a
When the documentation is not clear regarding a potential complication,
it is ap-
propriate query the physician (HHS 2014, Section I.B.16, 16; Leon-
Chisen 2013, 43-44).
6.A patient is admitted to a psychiatric unit of an acute-care facility. The
patient experienced the following symptoms almost every day for the last
month: loss of interest or pleasure in most or all activities, which is a
change from her prior level of functioning. She has also gained 15 lbs, has
difficulty falling asleep, feels fatigued, and has difficulty making decisions.
What potential diagnosis most closely fits the patient's overall symptoms?
a. Insomnia
b. Major depression
c. Reye's syndrome
d. Bipolar disorder
Answer: b
The symptoms provided are indicative of a depressive disorder (Leon-
Chisen 2013, 175).
7.Inpatient
Admission for inguinal hernia repair. This 30-year-old patient has acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) but is not symptomatic at this time due
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28
