AAPC Updated CPC Exam Questions and Answers by zorawar

In medical terminology, the suffix -graph refers to an instrument used for recording data or the process of recording. This suffix is commonly tested on the CPC exam.

Examples include:

Electrocardiograph – instrument used to record heart activity

Angiograph – instrument used to record images of blood vessels

To distinguish from related suffixes:

-gram = the record or image itself

-graphy = the process of recording

Thus, option A is correct.

90960 = ESRD services, 4 or more visits/month

N18.6 = End-stage renal disease

Z99.2 = Dependence on renal dialysis

Modifier -79 is used to indicate an unrelated procedure or service performed by the same physician during the postoperative (global) period.

-57 = decision for surgery

-25 = significant, separately identifiable E/M

-55 = postoperative management only

Modifier usage is a high-yield CPC exam topic.

Procedure Coding (CPT®):

31287 – Nasal/sinus endoscopy, surgical; with sphenoidotomy

Correct because the surgeon performed a surgical endoscopic sphenoidotomy to evaluate and treat sphenoid sinus injury.

No CSF leak repair was performed, so codes 31290–31291 are not appropriate.

31231-59 – Nasal endoscopy, diagnostic

Diagnostic endoscopy is separately reportable because:

It was performed to evaluate traumatic injury

It is not bundled into the surgical service when it provides distinct diagnostic information

Modifier -59 indicates a separate and distinct service per NCCI edits.

Diagnosis Coding (ICD-10-CM):

S02.109A – Unspecified fracture of base of skull, initial encounter for closed fracture

The anterior cranial fossa fracture with sphenoid sinus involvement qualifies as a skull base fracture

No CSF leak is documented

Correct 7th character “A” for initial encounter

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A – Incorrect format and duplicated CPT logic

B – 31267 = maxillary sinus, wrong sinus

D – 31291 includes CSF leak repair, which was not performed