AAPC CPC PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS 2026/2027
A 46-year-
old female had a previous biopsy that indicated positive malignant margins anteriorly on the right side o
f her neck. A 0.5 cm margin was drawn out and a 15 blade scalpel was used for full excision of an 8 cm l
esion. Layered closure was performed aſter the removal. The specimen was sent for permanent histopat
hologic 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 - CORRECT 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 h
ad to be minimally trimmed because of a sharp point at the end of the metatarsal. Aſter debriding the a
rea, 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 sal
ine and dressings and then wrapped. What CPT® code should be reported?
A. 11043
B. 11012
C. 11044
D. 11042 - CORRECT 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 leſt leg
had deep cuts measuring 5 cm on each extremity. Her right hand and right foot had a total of 3 cm lacer
ations. The ED physician repaired the lacerations as follows: The forehead, cheek, and chin had debride
ment 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 adh
esive 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 - CORRECT 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 large
r and is beginning to bother her. She is brought to the Operating Room for definitive excision. An incisio
n was made directly overlying the mass. The mass was down into the subcutaneous tissue and the surge
on encountered a well encapsulated lipoma approximately 4 centimeters. This was excised primarily blu
ntly 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 - CORRECT ANSWER -C. 21931, D17.1
Question 5
PREOPERATIVE DIAGNOSIS: Right scaphoid fracture. TYPE OF PROCEDURE: Open reduction and internal f
ixation of right scaphoid fracture. DESCRIPTION OF PROCEDURE: The patient was brought to the operati
ng 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. A
n 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 do
rsal 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 fr
om t - CORRECT ANSWER -A. 25628-RT
An infant with genu valgum is brought to the operating room to have a bilateral medial distal femur he
miepiphysiodesis done. On each knee, the C-
arm was used to localize the growth plate. With the growth plate localized, an incision was made medial
ly 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
,x
B.x27475-50
C.x27477-50
D.x27485-50x-xCORRECTxANSWERx-D.x27485-50
Thexpatientxisxax67-year-
oldxgentlemanxwithxmetastaticxcolonxcancerxrecentlyxoperatedxonxforxaxbrainxmetastasis,xnowxforxplace
m
ent
Portxof xan
xfor xInfuse-A-xchemotherapy.xThexleſtxsubclavianxveinxwasxlocatedxwithxaxneedlexandxaxguidexwirex
xcontinued
pl
aced.xThisxwasxconfirmedxtoxbexinxthexproperxpositionxfluoroscopically.xAxtransversexincisionxwasxmade
xj
ustxinferiorxtoxthisxandxaxsubcutaneousxpocketxcreatedxjustxinferiorxtoxthis.xAſterxtunneling,xthexintrodu
ce
rxwasxplacedxoverxthexguidexwirexandxthexpowerxportxlinexwasxplacedxwithxthexintroducerxandxthexintr
od
ucerxwasxpeeledxaway.xThextipxwasxplacedxinxthexappropriatexpositionxunderxfluoroscopicxguidancexand
xt
hexcatheterxtrimmedxtoxthexappropriatexlengthxandxsecuredxtoxthexpowerxportxdevice.xThexlockingxmec
Questionx8
h
anism
A xwasxxidentified
xCTxscan fullyxengaged.xThexportxwasxplacedxinxthexsubcutaneousxpocketxandxeverythingxsatxveryxnic
xmoderate-
ely xmale.
sized
old xright xpleural
xThisxwasxeffusion xinxa
xestimated tox50
xbexyear-
x800xccxinxsizexandxhadxanxappearancexofxfluidxonxthexCTxScan.xAxn
fluoroscopically.xItxwasxsecuredxtoxthexunderlyingxsoſtxtissuex-xCORRECTxANSWERx-C.x36561,x77001-26
eed
lexisxusedxtoxpuncturexthroughxthexchestxtissuesxandxenterxthexpleuralxcavityxtoxinsertxaxguidewirexund
er
ultrasoundxguidance.xAxpigtailxcatheterxisxthenxinsertedxatxthexlengthxofxthexguidewirexandxsecuredxbyx
sti
A. x32557
tches. xThexcatheterxwillxremainxinxthexchestxandxisxconnectedxtox drainagexsystemxtoxdrainxthexaccumul
at
B.x32555
edxfluid.xThexCPT®xcodexis:
C.x32556
D.x32550x-xCORRECTxANSWERx-A.x32557
Thexpatientxisxax59-year-
oldxwhitexmalexwhoxunderwentxcarotidxendarterectomyxforxsymptomaticxleſtxcarotidxstenosisxaxyearxag
o.
AxcarotidxCTxangiogramxshowedxaxrecurrentx90%xleſtxinternalxcarotidxarteryxstenosisxextendingxintoxthe
commonxcarotidxartery.xHexisxtakenxtoxthexoperatingxroomxforxre-
doxleſtxcarotidxendarterectomy.xThexleſtxneckxwasxpreppedxandxthexpreviousxincisionxwasxcarefullyxreop
e
ned.xUsingxsharpxdissection,xthexcommonxcarotidxarteryxandxitsxbranchesxwerexdissectedxfree.xThexpati
e
ntxwasxsystematicallyxheparinizedxandxaſterxaxfewxminutes,xclampsxwerexappliedxtoxthexcommonxcaroti
d
arteryxandxitsxbranches.xAxlongitudinalxarteriotomyxwasxcarriedxoutxwithxfindingsxofxextensivexlayeringx
of
intimalxhyperplasiaxwithxnoxevidencexofxrecurrentxatherosclerosis.xAxsilasticxballoon-
,x
tipxshuntxwasxinsertedxfirstxproximallyxandxthenxdistally,xwithxrestorationxofxflow.xSeveralxlayersxofxinti
ma
werexremovedxandxthexendartx-xCORRECTxANSWERx-B.x35301,x35390
Ax52-year-
oldxpatientxisxadmittedxtoxthexhospitalxforxchronicxcholecystitisxforxwhichxaxlaparoscopicxcholecystecto
my
willxbexperformed.xAxtransversexinfraumbilicalxincisionxwasxmadexsharplyxdissectingxtoxthexsubcutaneo
u
sxtissuexdownxtoxthexfasciaxusingxaccessxunderxdirectxvisionxwithxaxVesi-
Portxandxaxscopexwasxplacedxintoxthexabdomen.xThreexotherxportsxwerexinsertedxunderxdirectxvision.x
Th
exfundusxofxthexgallbladderxwasxgraspedxthroughxthexlateralxport,xwherexmultiplexadhesionsxtoxthexgall
bl
adder
bagxandxwere xtakenxxdown
xremoving xsharply
itxfrom xandxbluntly:
xthexabdominal xThe
xcavity xgallbladder
xwith xappeared
xthexumbilical xchronically
xport. xWhatxCPT®xinflamed. xDissection
xandxICD-10-
was
Cx- xcarriedxoutxtoxthexrightxofxthisxidentifyingxaxsmallxcysticxductxandxartery,xwasxclippedxtwicexproxim
all
CORRECTxANSWERx-B.x47562,xK81.1
y,x oncexdistallyxandxtransected.xThexgallbladderxwasxthenxtakenxdownxfromxthexbedxusingxelectrocauter
y,
Ax70-year-
deliveringxitxintoxanxendo-
oldxfemalexwhoxhasxaxhistoryxofxsymptomaticxventralxherniaxwasxadvisedxtoxundergoxlaparoscopicxevalu
a
tionxandxrepair.xAnxincisionxwasxmadexinxthexepigastriumxandxdissectionxwasxcarriedxdownxthroughxthe
xs
ubcutaneousxtissue.xTwox5-
mmxtrocarsxwerexplaced,xonexinxthexleſtxupperxquadrantxandxonexinxthexleſtxlowerxquadrantxandxthexla
pa
roscope xwasxinserted.xDissectionxwasxcarriedxdownxtoxthexareaxofxthexherniaxwherexaxsmallxdefectxwas
) reported?
xcl
A. x49560,
early x49568xTherexwasxsomexomentum,xwhichxwasxadheredxtoxthexherniaxandxthisxwasxdeliveredxb
xvisualized.
ac
B.x49652
kxintoxthexperitonealxcavity.xThexmeshxwasxtackedxonxtoxcoverxthexdefect.xWhatxprocedurexcode(s)xisx(
are
C. x49653
D.x49652,x49568x-xCORRECTxANSWERx-B.x49652
Thexpatientxisxax50-year-
oldxgentlemanxwhoxpresentedxtoxthexemergencyxroomxwithxsignsxandxsymptomsxofxacutexappendicitisx
w
ithxpossiblexrupture.xHexhasxbeenxbroughtxtoxthexoperatingxroom.xAnxinfraumbilicalxincisionxwasxmadex
w
hichxax5-mmxVersaStep™xtrocarxwasxinserted.xAx5-mmx0-
degreexlaparoscopexwasxintroduced.xAxsecondx5-mmxtrocarxwasxplacedxsuprapubicallyxandxax12-
mmxtrocarxinxthexleſtxlowerxquadrant.xAxwindowxwasxmadexinxthexmesoappendixxusingxbluntxdissectio
n
withxnoxrupturexnoted.xThexbasexofxthexappendixxwasxthenxdividedxandxplacedxintoxanxEndo-
catchxbagxandxthex12-mmxdefectxwasxbroughtxout.xSelectxthexappropriatexcodexforxthisxprocedure:
CORRECT ANSWERS 2026/2027
A 46-year-
old female had a previous biopsy that indicated positive malignant margins anteriorly on the right side o
f her neck. A 0.5 cm margin was drawn out and a 15 blade scalpel was used for full excision of an 8 cm l
esion. Layered closure was performed aſter the removal. The specimen was sent for permanent histopat
hologic 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 - CORRECT 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 h
ad to be minimally trimmed because of a sharp point at the end of the metatarsal. Aſter debriding the a
rea, 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 sal
ine and dressings and then wrapped. What CPT® code should be reported?
A. 11043
B. 11012
C. 11044
D. 11042 - CORRECT 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 leſt leg
had deep cuts measuring 5 cm on each extremity. Her right hand and right foot had a total of 3 cm lacer
ations. The ED physician repaired the lacerations as follows: The forehead, cheek, and chin had debride
ment 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 adh
esive 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 - CORRECT 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 large
r and is beginning to bother her. She is brought to the Operating Room for definitive excision. An incisio
n was made directly overlying the mass. The mass was down into the subcutaneous tissue and the surge
on encountered a well encapsulated lipoma approximately 4 centimeters. This was excised primarily blu
ntly 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 - CORRECT ANSWER -C. 21931, D17.1
Question 5
PREOPERATIVE DIAGNOSIS: Right scaphoid fracture. TYPE OF PROCEDURE: Open reduction and internal f
ixation of right scaphoid fracture. DESCRIPTION OF PROCEDURE: The patient was brought to the operati
ng 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. A
n 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 do
rsal 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 fr
om t - CORRECT ANSWER -A. 25628-RT
An infant with genu valgum is brought to the operating room to have a bilateral medial distal femur he
miepiphysiodesis done. On each knee, the C-
arm was used to localize the growth plate. With the growth plate localized, an incision was made medial
ly 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
,x
B.x27475-50
C.x27477-50
D.x27485-50x-xCORRECTxANSWERx-D.x27485-50
Thexpatientxisxax67-year-
oldxgentlemanxwithxmetastaticxcolonxcancerxrecentlyxoperatedxonxforxaxbrainxmetastasis,xnowxforxplace
m
ent
Portxof xan
xfor xInfuse-A-xchemotherapy.xThexleſtxsubclavianxveinxwasxlocatedxwithxaxneedlexandxaxguidexwirex
xcontinued
pl
aced.xThisxwasxconfirmedxtoxbexinxthexproperxpositionxfluoroscopically.xAxtransversexincisionxwasxmade
xj
ustxinferiorxtoxthisxandxaxsubcutaneousxpocketxcreatedxjustxinferiorxtoxthis.xAſterxtunneling,xthexintrodu
ce
rxwasxplacedxoverxthexguidexwirexandxthexpowerxportxlinexwasxplacedxwithxthexintroducerxandxthexintr
od
ucerxwasxpeeledxaway.xThextipxwasxplacedxinxthexappropriatexpositionxunderxfluoroscopicxguidancexand
xt
hexcatheterxtrimmedxtoxthexappropriatexlengthxandxsecuredxtoxthexpowerxportxdevice.xThexlockingxmec
Questionx8
h
anism
A xwasxxidentified
xCTxscan fullyxengaged.xThexportxwasxplacedxinxthexsubcutaneousxpocketxandxeverythingxsatxveryxnic
xmoderate-
ely xmale.
sized
old xright xpleural
xThisxwasxeffusion xinxa
xestimated tox50
xbexyear-
x800xccxinxsizexandxhadxanxappearancexofxfluidxonxthexCTxScan.xAxn
fluoroscopically.xItxwasxsecuredxtoxthexunderlyingxsoſtxtissuex-xCORRECTxANSWERx-C.x36561,x77001-26
eed
lexisxusedxtoxpuncturexthroughxthexchestxtissuesxandxenterxthexpleuralxcavityxtoxinsertxaxguidewirexund
er
ultrasoundxguidance.xAxpigtailxcatheterxisxthenxinsertedxatxthexlengthxofxthexguidewirexandxsecuredxbyx
sti
A. x32557
tches. xThexcatheterxwillxremainxinxthexchestxandxisxconnectedxtox drainagexsystemxtoxdrainxthexaccumul
at
B.x32555
edxfluid.xThexCPT®xcodexis:
C.x32556
D.x32550x-xCORRECTxANSWERx-A.x32557
Thexpatientxisxax59-year-
oldxwhitexmalexwhoxunderwentxcarotidxendarterectomyxforxsymptomaticxleſtxcarotidxstenosisxaxyearxag
o.
AxcarotidxCTxangiogramxshowedxaxrecurrentx90%xleſtxinternalxcarotidxarteryxstenosisxextendingxintoxthe
commonxcarotidxartery.xHexisxtakenxtoxthexoperatingxroomxforxre-
doxleſtxcarotidxendarterectomy.xThexleſtxneckxwasxpreppedxandxthexpreviousxincisionxwasxcarefullyxreop
e
ned.xUsingxsharpxdissection,xthexcommonxcarotidxarteryxandxitsxbranchesxwerexdissectedxfree.xThexpati
e
ntxwasxsystematicallyxheparinizedxandxaſterxaxfewxminutes,xclampsxwerexappliedxtoxthexcommonxcaroti
d
arteryxandxitsxbranches.xAxlongitudinalxarteriotomyxwasxcarriedxoutxwithxfindingsxofxextensivexlayeringx
of
intimalxhyperplasiaxwithxnoxevidencexofxrecurrentxatherosclerosis.xAxsilasticxballoon-
,x
tipxshuntxwasxinsertedxfirstxproximallyxandxthenxdistally,xwithxrestorationxofxflow.xSeveralxlayersxofxinti
ma
werexremovedxandxthexendartx-xCORRECTxANSWERx-B.x35301,x35390
Ax52-year-
oldxpatientxisxadmittedxtoxthexhospitalxforxchronicxcholecystitisxforxwhichxaxlaparoscopicxcholecystecto
my
willxbexperformed.xAxtransversexinfraumbilicalxincisionxwasxmadexsharplyxdissectingxtoxthexsubcutaneo
u
sxtissuexdownxtoxthexfasciaxusingxaccessxunderxdirectxvisionxwithxaxVesi-
Portxandxaxscopexwasxplacedxintoxthexabdomen.xThreexotherxportsxwerexinsertedxunderxdirectxvision.x
Th
exfundusxofxthexgallbladderxwasxgraspedxthroughxthexlateralxport,xwherexmultiplexadhesionsxtoxthexgall
bl
adder
bagxandxwere xtakenxxdown
xremoving xsharply
itxfrom xandxbluntly:
xthexabdominal xThe
xcavity xgallbladder
xwith xappeared
xthexumbilical xchronically
xport. xWhatxCPT®xinflamed. xDissection
xandxICD-10-
was
Cx- xcarriedxoutxtoxthexrightxofxthisxidentifyingxaxsmallxcysticxductxandxartery,xwasxclippedxtwicexproxim
all
CORRECTxANSWERx-B.x47562,xK81.1
y,x oncexdistallyxandxtransected.xThexgallbladderxwasxthenxtakenxdownxfromxthexbedxusingxelectrocauter
y,
Ax70-year-
deliveringxitxintoxanxendo-
oldxfemalexwhoxhasxaxhistoryxofxsymptomaticxventralxherniaxwasxadvisedxtoxundergoxlaparoscopicxevalu
a
tionxandxrepair.xAnxincisionxwasxmadexinxthexepigastriumxandxdissectionxwasxcarriedxdownxthroughxthe
xs
ubcutaneousxtissue.xTwox5-
mmxtrocarsxwerexplaced,xonexinxthexleſtxupperxquadrantxandxonexinxthexleſtxlowerxquadrantxandxthexla
pa
roscope xwasxinserted.xDissectionxwasxcarriedxdownxtoxthexareaxofxthexherniaxwherexaxsmallxdefectxwas
) reported?
xcl
A. x49560,
early x49568xTherexwasxsomexomentum,xwhichxwasxadheredxtoxthexherniaxandxthisxwasxdeliveredxb
xvisualized.
ac
B.x49652
kxintoxthexperitonealxcavity.xThexmeshxwasxtackedxonxtoxcoverxthexdefect.xWhatxprocedurexcode(s)xisx(
are
C. x49653
D.x49652,x49568x-xCORRECTxANSWERx-B.x49652
Thexpatientxisxax50-year-
oldxgentlemanxwhoxpresentedxtoxthexemergencyxroomxwithxsignsxandxsymptomsxofxacutexappendicitisx
w
ithxpossiblexrupture.xHexhasxbeenxbroughtxtoxthexoperatingxroom.xAnxinfraumbilicalxincisionxwasxmadex
w
hichxax5-mmxVersaStep™xtrocarxwasxinserted.xAx5-mmx0-
degreexlaparoscopexwasxintroduced.xAxsecondx5-mmxtrocarxwasxplacedxsuprapubicallyxandxax12-
mmxtrocarxinxthexleſtxlowerxquadrant.xAxwindowxwasxmadexinxthexmesoappendixxusingxbluntxdissectio
n
withxnoxrupturexnoted.xThexbasexofxthexappendixxwasxthenxdividedxandxplacedxintoxanxEndo-
catchxbagxandxthex12-mmxdefectxwasxbroughtxout.xSelectxthexappropriatexcodexforxthisxprocedure:
