AAPC CPC Practice Exam A QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST 2026-2027
NEW VERSION
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 drainage of fluid from the pleural cavity was performed via needle
(percutaneous) with insertion of an indwelling catheter to drain the fluid, eliminating
multiple choice answers B and D. The procedure was performed under ultrasound
guidance, eliminating multiple choice answer C.
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
D. 49652, 49568 - answer>>>B. 49652
The patient is having a laparoscopic ventral hernia repair, eliminating multiple choice
answer A. The hernia is not documented as being incarcerated or strangulated,
eliminating multiple choice answer C. A parenthetical note under the code
description for 49652 indicates that a mesh insertion (49568) is not reported with
this code when performed; eliminating multiple choice answer D.
The patient is a 50-year-old gentleman who presented to the emergency room with
signs and symptoms of acute appendicitis with possible rupture. He has been
brought to the operating room. An infraumbilical incision was made which a 5-mm
VersaStep™ trocar was inserted. A 5-mm 0- degree laparoscope was introduced. A
second 5-mm trocar was placed suprapubically and a 12-mm trocar in the left lower
quadrant. A window was made in the mesoappendix using blunt dissection with no
rupture noted. The base of the appendix was then divided and placed into an Endo-
catch bag and the 12-mm defect was brought out. Select the appropriate code for
this procedure:
A. 44970
B. 44950
C. 44960
D. 44979 - answer>>>A. 44970
Patient is having the surgery performed by a laparoscope, eliminating multiple
choice answers B and C. The surgical procedure performed was an appendectomy,
eliminating multiple choice D.
, A 45-year-old male is going to donate his kidney to his son. Operating ports where
placed in standard position and the scope was inserted. Dissection of the renal
artery and vein was performed isolating the kidney. The kidney was suspended only
by the renal artery and vein as well as the ureter. A stapler was used to divide the
vein just above the aorta and three clips across the ureter, extracting the kidney.
This was placed on ice and sent to the recipient room. The correct CPT® code is:
A. 50543
B. 50547
C. 50300
D. 50320 - answer>>>B. 50547
This is a surgical laparoscopic procedure for removing the kidney (nephrectomy),
eliminating multiple choice answers C and D. The whole kidney was taken out from a
donor and put on ice (cold preservation), eliminating multiple choice answer A.
A 67-year-old female having urinary incontinence with intrinsic sphincter deficiency
is having a cystoscopy performed with a placement of a sling. An incision was made
over the mid urethra dissected laterally to urethropelvic ligament. Cystoscopy
revealed no penetration of the bladder. The edges of the sling were weaved around
the junction of the urethra and brought up to the suprapubic incision. A hemostat
was then placed between the sling and the urethra, ensuring no tension. What CPT®
code(s) is (are) reported?
A. 57288
B. 57287
C. 57288, 52000-51
D. 51992, 52000-51 - answer>>>A. 57288
Removal or revision of the sling is not being performed, eliminating multiple choice
answer B. The procedure was an open surgery, eliminating multiple choice answer D.
Cystoscopy procedure code is a separate procedure. According to CPT® Surgery
guidelines, the codes designated as a "separate procedure" should not be reported
in addition to the code for the total procedure or service of which it is considered an
VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST 2026-2027
NEW VERSION
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 drainage of fluid from the pleural cavity was performed via needle
(percutaneous) with insertion of an indwelling catheter to drain the fluid, eliminating
multiple choice answers B and D. The procedure was performed under ultrasound
guidance, eliminating multiple choice answer C.
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
D. 49652, 49568 - answer>>>B. 49652
The patient is having a laparoscopic ventral hernia repair, eliminating multiple choice
answer A. The hernia is not documented as being incarcerated or strangulated,
eliminating multiple choice answer C. A parenthetical note under the code
description for 49652 indicates that a mesh insertion (49568) is not reported with
this code when performed; eliminating multiple choice answer D.
The patient is a 50-year-old gentleman who presented to the emergency room with
signs and symptoms of acute appendicitis with possible rupture. He has been
brought to the operating room. An infraumbilical incision was made which a 5-mm
VersaStep™ trocar was inserted. A 5-mm 0- degree laparoscope was introduced. A
second 5-mm trocar was placed suprapubically and a 12-mm trocar in the left lower
quadrant. A window was made in the mesoappendix using blunt dissection with no
rupture noted. The base of the appendix was then divided and placed into an Endo-
catch bag and the 12-mm defect was brought out. Select the appropriate code for
this procedure:
A. 44970
B. 44950
C. 44960
D. 44979 - answer>>>A. 44970
Patient is having the surgery performed by a laparoscope, eliminating multiple
choice answers B and C. The surgical procedure performed was an appendectomy,
eliminating multiple choice D.
, A 45-year-old male is going to donate his kidney to his son. Operating ports where
placed in standard position and the scope was inserted. Dissection of the renal
artery and vein was performed isolating the kidney. The kidney was suspended only
by the renal artery and vein as well as the ureter. A stapler was used to divide the
vein just above the aorta and three clips across the ureter, extracting the kidney.
This was placed on ice and sent to the recipient room. The correct CPT® code is:
A. 50543
B. 50547
C. 50300
D. 50320 - answer>>>B. 50547
This is a surgical laparoscopic procedure for removing the kidney (nephrectomy),
eliminating multiple choice answers C and D. The whole kidney was taken out from a
donor and put on ice (cold preservation), eliminating multiple choice answer A.
A 67-year-old female having urinary incontinence with intrinsic sphincter deficiency
is having a cystoscopy performed with a placement of a sling. An incision was made
over the mid urethra dissected laterally to urethropelvic ligament. Cystoscopy
revealed no penetration of the bladder. The edges of the sling were weaved around
the junction of the urethra and brought up to the suprapubic incision. A hemostat
was then placed between the sling and the urethra, ensuring no tension. What CPT®
code(s) is (are) reported?
A. 57288
B. 57287
C. 57288, 52000-51
D. 51992, 52000-51 - answer>>>A. 57288
Removal or revision of the sling is not being performed, eliminating multiple choice
answer B. The procedure was an open surgery, eliminating multiple choice answer D.
Cystoscopy procedure code is a separate procedure. According to CPT® Surgery
guidelines, the codes designated as a "separate procedure" should not be reported
in addition to the code for the total procedure or service of which it is considered an
