AAPC CPC EXAM [2026] | UPDATED ACTUAL | 100%
CORRECT ANSWERS | DETAILED SOLUTIONS |
COMPLETE STUDY REVIEW
• 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 -✓✓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 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 -✓✓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 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 -✓✓ANSWER: 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 defect at the fracture
site. A 0.045 Kirschner wire was then used as a guidewire, extending from t -
✓✓ANSWER: 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 -✓✓ANSWER: 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 -✓✓ANSWER: 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
C. 32556
D. 32550 -✓✓ANSWER: 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 -
✓✓ANSWER: 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
CORRECT ANSWERS | DETAILED SOLUTIONS |
COMPLETE STUDY REVIEW
• 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 -✓✓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 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 -✓✓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 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 -✓✓ANSWER: 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 defect at the fracture
site. A 0.045 Kirschner wire was then used as a guidewire, extending from t -
✓✓ANSWER: 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 -✓✓ANSWER: 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 -✓✓ANSWER: 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
C. 32556
D. 32550 -✓✓ANSWER: 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 -
✓✓ANSWER: 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
