Medical Coding Exam Questions & Answers 2026 (21–30)

Question 1

Most codes for pregnancy require a final character to indicate the trimester of pregnancy.

Which of the following describes the 1^st trimester?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Less than 14 weeks 0 days.. 1^st trimester - Less than 14 weeks 0 days.

2^nd trimester - 14 weeks 0 days to less than 28 weeks 0 days.

3^rd trimester - 28 weeks 0 days until delivery.

Question 2

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

The code is exempt from modifier 51.. This code is exempt from modifier 51 (multiple procedures), so it cannot be performed multiple times.

Question 3

PROCEDURAL NOTEPATIENT: Ray, Alexander

AGE: 59

DATE: 02/15/2015
PREOPERATIVE DIAGNOSIS: Prostate Cancer, Primary
POSTOPERATIVE DIAGNOSIS: Same

PROCEDURE: TURPA patient was placed in supine position on the operating table, draped and anesthetized accordingly. Using a resectoscope with light source, the physician located the prostate and resected the malignant prostatic tissue with electrocautery knife, leaving the appropriate margins. The physician removed the resectoscope and the patient was catheterized for drainage of his bladder contents and resected prostatic tissue. The patient tolerated the procedure well and was transferred to postoperative recovery.

What is the correct code for this surgical procedure?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

52601. The correct code for this surgical procedure is 52601 (Transurethral Electrosurgical Resection of the Prostate Including Control of Postoperative Bleeding, Complete). The procedure TURP stands for transurethral resection of the prostate, which is the procedure described in the procedural note.

Code 52500 is only used for the resection of a bladder neck not the prostate.

Code 52630 is used for the regrowth of prostatic tissue and modifier-58 is inappropriate because it is used for the primary procedure.

Question 4

A 32-year-old married female presents to her OB/GYN office for diaphragm fitting. After performing a pelvic examination and routine physical, the OB measures the cervix and adjusts the diaphragm so that it fits neatly over the cervical opening. The OB then instructs the patient in how to place the diaphragm for most effective birth control, as well as how to remove, clean, and store the diaphragm. Satisfied that the patient understands how to use the device properly, she allows the patient to leave the office with a follow-up appointment scheduled in one month. How should the OB/GYN code for this visit?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

99395, 57170-59. The OB/GYN should code for this visit with 99395 (Routine Physical and Pelvic Examination). OB/GYNs are considered primary care physicians who can perform routine physical examinations.

Code 57170 (Diaphragm or Cervical Cap Fitting with Instructions) also needs to be included on the claim because the OB performed an additional service. Furthermore, it is necessary to combine the modifier -59 with code 57170 to indicate that there was a distinct procedural service provided to the patient on the same day as an E/M service, which in this case, is a routine physical and pelvic exam.

Question 5

The physician performs an arthroplasty of the patella, and also places a prosthesis. This procedure would be coded as:

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

27438. 27438: Using the CPT alphabetic index: Patella, Repair, Arthroplasty or Patella, Repair, with Prosthesis. An alternative indexing option would also be: Arthroplasty, knee. This would provide the code range: 27437- 27447. There is often more than one way to index a procedure within the CPT codebook.

Question 6

OPERATIVE NOTE

Organization: Pennhurst Hospital

Patient Name: Mario Hernandez

Preoperative Diagnosis: sarcoma left lower extremity

Postoperative Diagnosis: same

Procedure: excision sarcoma left lower extremity

Surgeon: Mohammed Yashir, MD

ASA Class: 2

Anesthesia: general endotracheal

Indications for Procedure: The patient is a 54-year-old male presenting with a painless mass in the left lateral calf that has been gradually enlarging over the last 5 months.

Procedure:
The skin and subcutaneous tissues were infiltrated with 15 mL 0.25% Marcaine local anesthetic. An elliptical incision was made to ensure that all the skin overlying the palpable lesion was incorporated. This included the previous core needle biopsy site. The ellipse of skin excised with the specimen was 10 x 6 cm. The incision was carried through the skin and superficial subcutaneous tissues. A flap was then raised circumferentially around the incision site to widely include the subcutaneous tissue around the palpable lesion to a margin of 3 cm. We went directly through the deep subcutaneous tissue all the way to the level of the muscle fascia and including as the deep margin. We excised the muscle fascia circumferentially and did not note any obvious involvement of the muscle. At no point during the procedure did we see or directly palpate the lesion. I felt I had what appeared to be a good rim of normal surrounding skin, subcutaneous fat, and muscle fascia. The excised specimen was tagged at the 12:00 axis and sent to surgical pathology. The surgical site was inspected. Hemostasis was achieved using electrocautery. The extent of the excision was marked with 5 clips (superior, inferior, medial, lateral, and mid posterior. I then raised subcutaneous flaps more laterally and medially to facilitate skin closure and allow for a tensionless closure. The subcutaneous tissues were reapproximated with 3-0 Vicryl. The skin was closed with interrupted 3-0 Nylon sutures and reinforced with steri-strips.

Specimen: site of sarcoma, left lower extremity (stitch at 12:00)

Estimated Blood Loss: minimal

Complications: none

According to the OP Note, the patient presented with a painless mass in the left lateral calf that has been gradually enlarging over the last 5 months. An ultrasound and MRI were obtained which demonstrated an approximately 3 x 1 x 2 cm subcutaneous lesion, with no other lesions apparent. Patient's lymph nodes were clear. A core needle biopsy was performed that confirmed a sarcoma. Please assign the correct ICD-10-CM diagnosis code.

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

C49.22. According to the ICD-10-CM Neoplasm table, sarcoma is a malignancy of the connective tissue. The patient's sarcoma is located on the left calf, which is the lower limb. The neoplasm table identifies ICD-10-CM diagnosis code C49.22. The Tabular List indicates that C49.2 is a malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue of lower limb, including hip. A 5th digit is needed for specificity, referencing the lower left limb, C49.22.

Question 7

A 10-year-old girl comes to her pediatrician’s office after smashing the nail of her right 2^nd digit in the car door the previous night. This morning, the tip of her finger is edematous, there is a large amount of ecchymosis present, and the pain is worse than when the injury initially occurred. The pediatrician uses a disposable Bovie high-temperature cautery pen to cauterize a hole in the nail to allow the subungual hematoma to drain. A small amount of serosanguineous fluid is removed and pain rapidly decreased.

Which of the following codes should you use?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

11740. 11740 is correct because the subungual hematoma was able to be evacuated by using a disposable Bovie cautery pen in the office.

Code 11720 is incorrect because there was no debridement done of the nail.

Code 11730 is incorrect because there was no avulsion and 11750 is incorrect because there was no excision of the nail for permanent removal.

Question 8

Which of these HCPCS Level II Modifiers is used to indicate “medical supervision by a physician: more than four concurrent anesthesia procedures”?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

AD.. AA - anesthesia services performed personally by anesthesiologist

AD - medical supervision by a physician: more than four concurrent anesthesia procedures

QK - medical direction of two, three, or four concurrent anesthesia procedures involving qualified individuals

QY - medical direction of one certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) by an anesthesiologist.

Question 9

Interstitial lung disease is reported with what category?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

J84.. Interstitial lung disease – J84

Pyothorax (empyema) – J86

Pneumothorax – J93

Cystic fibrosis – E84.

Question 10

The diaphragm is the major muscle that controls breathing. Is this muscle voluntary or involuntary?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Both. The diaphragm is voluntary and involuntary. It is involuntary because you do not have to consciously think about taking a breath every time you inhale or exhale. This is illustrated when you hiccup involuntarily. It is also voluntary because you can change the way you breathe, for instance when you hold your breath.

Medical Coding Exam Questions & Answers 2026 (21–30)

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