CPC Exam Prep
Abnormal chest x-ray
Z00.00
R90.0
R91.8
Z00.01 - Answer-R91.8
Since the chest x-ray was only stated as "abnormal," a code for nonspecific abnormal findings of lung
field, code R91.8
A patient with severe mental retardation and cerumen impactions in both ears was unable to be cleared
in the office. Using surgical instrumentation, the canal was cleared of impacted cerumen bilaterally.
69200
69210
69210-50
,69205-50 - Answer-69210-50
Assign code 69210-50 for bilateral removal of impacted cerumen. Cerumen was cleared with surgical
instrumentation and, therefore, was assigned code 69210. The remaining selections are for removal of a
foreign body of the external ear and, therefore, not appropriate.
Gastroscope was introduced through the mouth and passed into the stomach, through the pylorus and
into the second portion of the duodenum. Just inferior to the Z-line, a small polyp was identified and
cold biopsied. Rectal exam was performed, and colonoscope was advanced to the cecum. Multiple
sessile polyps were removed utilizing snare and cauterized. There were two other tiny polyps that were
ablated due to their size.
45385, 43239
45388, 45385-51, 43239
45385, 45384-51, 43235
45385, 45388-51, 43239 - Answer-45388, 45385-51, 43239
A total of three (3) procedures were performed, therefore, three (3) CPT codes would be assigned. Both
colonoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) were performed. The colonoscopy involved
fulgurating polyps (45388) and polypectomy by snare (45385-51). The cauterization of the snared
polypectomy is not separately reportable to control bleeding created by the excision. An EGD was also
performed with biopsy, which would be assigned 43239.
The remaining selections did not include the fulguration of polyps and, therefore, would not be correct.
A 67-year-old patient with known CAD and a history of MI was admitted for CABG. A portion of the right
radial vein was procured for bypass grafting, and then proceeded to perform two coronary venous
bypass grafts.
33511, 35500
33511
,33510, 33534
33510, 35500 - Answer-33511, 35500
Assign one code for the vein grafting, 2 vessels (code 33511), as well as a code for harvesting the radial
vein (code 35500).
Surgical pathology submitted to the pathologist is as follows: three surgical specimens taken from a liver
biopsy.
88305 × 3
88305
88307 × 3
88307 - Answer-88307 × 3
Code 88307 only is assigned for the liver biopsy, as each specimen was not individually identified. The
coder should refer to the Surgical Pathology listing by specimen to determine the correct surgical
pathology level for testing. Liver biopsy is listed under CPT code 88307.
Arthroscope was inserted and there were areas of diffuse chondromalacia, Grade III that was treated
with chondroplasty. The lateral meniscus was torn on its inner third and partial lateral meniscectomy
was performed. There was an unrepairable tear on the posterior horn of the medial meniscus and this
was also excised.
29881, 29877-51
29880, 29877-51
29881
29880 - Answer-29880
, Meniscectomy of both medial and lateral compartments was performed. Chondroplasty is included per
CPT.
CPT code 29880 only would be appropriate as code 29881 is for only the medial OR lateral
compartment.
CT brain is performed with and without contrast.
70482
70470
70480
70450 - Answer-70470
CT brain with and without contrast is assigned CPT code 70470 from Diagnostic Radiology, head/brain
section. Only CPT code 70470 is for a CT of the brain both with and without contrast. The remaining
choices are for a CT of the brain, however, without contrast (CPT code 70450) or CT of the orbit, middle
or inner ear.
Anesthesia coding and billing always require the following elements:
CPT code, physical status modifier, and time units
CPT code and modifier code
CPT code, physical status modifier, and qualifying circumstance
CPT Code - Answer-CPT code, physical status modifier, and time units
Abnormal chest x-ray
Z00.00
R90.0
R91.8
Z00.01 - Answer-R91.8
Since the chest x-ray was only stated as "abnormal," a code for nonspecific abnormal findings of lung
field, code R91.8
A patient with severe mental retardation and cerumen impactions in both ears was unable to be cleared
in the office. Using surgical instrumentation, the canal was cleared of impacted cerumen bilaterally.
69200
69210
69210-50
,69205-50 - Answer-69210-50
Assign code 69210-50 for bilateral removal of impacted cerumen. Cerumen was cleared with surgical
instrumentation and, therefore, was assigned code 69210. The remaining selections are for removal of a
foreign body of the external ear and, therefore, not appropriate.
Gastroscope was introduced through the mouth and passed into the stomach, through the pylorus and
into the second portion of the duodenum. Just inferior to the Z-line, a small polyp was identified and
cold biopsied. Rectal exam was performed, and colonoscope was advanced to the cecum. Multiple
sessile polyps were removed utilizing snare and cauterized. There were two other tiny polyps that were
ablated due to their size.
45385, 43239
45388, 45385-51, 43239
45385, 45384-51, 43235
45385, 45388-51, 43239 - Answer-45388, 45385-51, 43239
A total of three (3) procedures were performed, therefore, three (3) CPT codes would be assigned. Both
colonoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) were performed. The colonoscopy involved
fulgurating polyps (45388) and polypectomy by snare (45385-51). The cauterization of the snared
polypectomy is not separately reportable to control bleeding created by the excision. An EGD was also
performed with biopsy, which would be assigned 43239.
The remaining selections did not include the fulguration of polyps and, therefore, would not be correct.
A 67-year-old patient with known CAD and a history of MI was admitted for CABG. A portion of the right
radial vein was procured for bypass grafting, and then proceeded to perform two coronary venous
bypass grafts.
33511, 35500
33511
,33510, 33534
33510, 35500 - Answer-33511, 35500
Assign one code for the vein grafting, 2 vessels (code 33511), as well as a code for harvesting the radial
vein (code 35500).
Surgical pathology submitted to the pathologist is as follows: three surgical specimens taken from a liver
biopsy.
88305 × 3
88305
88307 × 3
88307 - Answer-88307 × 3
Code 88307 only is assigned for the liver biopsy, as each specimen was not individually identified. The
coder should refer to the Surgical Pathology listing by specimen to determine the correct surgical
pathology level for testing. Liver biopsy is listed under CPT code 88307.
Arthroscope was inserted and there were areas of diffuse chondromalacia, Grade III that was treated
with chondroplasty. The lateral meniscus was torn on its inner third and partial lateral meniscectomy
was performed. There was an unrepairable tear on the posterior horn of the medial meniscus and this
was also excised.
29881, 29877-51
29880, 29877-51
29881
29880 - Answer-29880
, Meniscectomy of both medial and lateral compartments was performed. Chondroplasty is included per
CPT.
CPT code 29880 only would be appropriate as code 29881 is for only the medial OR lateral
compartment.
CT brain is performed with and without contrast.
70482
70470
70480
70450 - Answer-70470
CT brain with and without contrast is assigned CPT code 70470 from Diagnostic Radiology, head/brain
section. Only CPT code 70470 is for a CT of the brain both with and without contrast. The remaining
choices are for a CT of the brain, however, without contrast (CPT code 70450) or CT of the orbit, middle
or inner ear.
Anesthesia coding and billing always require the following elements:
CPT code, physical status modifier, and time units
CPT code and modifier code
CPT code, physical status modifier, and qualifying circumstance
CPT Code - Answer-CPT code, physical status modifier, and time units
