CPC Radiology Practice Questions
Radiology makes up 3 of every 50 questions on a Tigertest CPC practice test. Here are 10 of the 12 questions on it, each with the answer and the reason.
Updated by the Tigertest team. Based on AAPC's published CPC exam areas, the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, CMS rules and CPT conventions. Original questions; no code-book lookups.
1. In CPT radiology, "with contrast" means contrast given:
- A.Only through an arterial catheter
- B.Into a vessel, joint or spinal canal
- C.By mouth or by enema only
- D.By any route, oral included
Answer: B. CPT "with contrast" means intravascular, intra-articular or intrathecal contrast. Oral or rectal contrast alone does not qualify.
2. HCPCS modifier TC on a radiology code reports:
- A.The complete global service
- B.A repeated imaging study
- C.The professional component only
- D.The technical component only
Answer: D. TC covers equipment, supplies and staff. Modifier 26 is the professional component and no modifier means the global service.
3. A complete ultrasound differs from a limited one because it:
- A.Examines every listed structure
- B.Lasts at least 30 minutes
- C.Always adds color Doppler imaging
- D.Has twice as many images
Answer: A. A complete exam images every element listed in the code's definition; a limited exam covers fewer, or a single organ or follow-up.
4. To report a diagnostic ultrasound, CPT requires:
- A.Two different views
- B.Contrast administration
- C.Permanently recorded images
- D.A referral from a radiologist
Answer: C. CPT requires permanently recorded images and a final written report. Ultrasound guidance also needs documented images.
5. In interventional radiology, S&I stands for:
- A.Scan and injection
- B.Study and indication
- C.Supervision and interpretation
- D.Surgery and imaging
Answer: C. S&I codes report the imaging part of a procedure; the injection or catheter placement is coded separately.
6. Screening mammography differs from diagnostic mammography because it is for:
- A.Patients with no symptoms
- B.Follow-up of a known finding
- C.Patients with a breast implant
- D.Patients with a lump
Answer: A. Screening is for asymptomatic patients. A lump, symptom or abnormal prior finding makes it diagnostic.
7. In nuclear medicine, the radiopharmaceutical is:
- A.Reported by pharmacy only
- B.Included in the scan code
- C.Never billed
- D.Reported separately
Answer: D. Nuclear medicine codes do not include the radiopharmaceutical, which is reported with a HCPCS Level II code.
8. Which imaging method uses no ionizing radiation?
- A.PET
- B.MRI
- C.CT
- D.Fluoroscopy
Answer: B. MRI uses a magnetic field and radio waves. CT and fluoroscopy use X-rays and PET uses a radioactive tracer.
9. A radiology code for two views requires:
- A.Two contrast phases
- B.Two distinct projections
- C.Two separate visits
- D.Two radiologists
Answer: B. Views are projections, such as frontal and lateral. The number of views in the report drives code choice.
10. Fluoroscopy is:
- A.Magnetic field imaging
- B.Radioactive tracer imaging
- C.Sound-wave imaging
- D.Real-time moving X-ray imaging
Answer: D. Fluoroscopy shows continuous X-ray images, often used to guide injections and catheters.
Practice all 12 radiology questions, and the rest of the 200-question bank, in the free CPC training sets. Questions you miss come back until you have mastered them.
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