Want to test your pathology knowledge before the CPC exam? Below are free sample flashcards from the 90-card pathology section of our 1041-card CPC (Certified Professional Coder) deck.
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A patient is admitted with sepsis due to acute staphylococcal pyelonephritis. What is the correct ICD-10-CM coding sequence according to 2026 guidelines?
Show answer →According to ICD-10-CM Guidelines (I.C.1.d.1.a), if sepsis is present on admission and meets the definition of principal diagnosis, the systemic infection (A41.-) is sequenced first, followed by the localized infection. Correct sequence: A41.1 (Sepsis due to S. aureus) then N10 (Acute pyelonephritis). AAPC Tip: Never code Urosepsis (A41.9) as a default; if the record only says urosepsis, you must query or code the UTI if sepsis isn't confirmed.
A patient with a history of prostate cancer, previously treated with a prostatectomy, presents for a follow-up. PSA levels are rising (rising PSA), but no recurrence is yet found. How is this coded?
Show answer →You should code: 1) R97.21 (Rising PSA following treatment for malignant neoplasm of prostate) and 2) Z85.46 (Personal history of malignant neoplasm of prostate). You cannot code C61 (Prostate cancer) because the organ has been removed and there is no confirmed recurrence or metastasis yet. AAPC Distractor: Do not use C61 just because the PSA is high; Rising PSA is a specific finding (R97.21) used in the surveillance phase.
A patient is diagnosed with secondary hypertension due to primary hyperaldosteronism (Conn's Syndrome). How should this be sequenced?
Show answer →Sequence the underlying condition first (E26.01, Primary hyperaldosteronism), followed by the code for the hypertension (I15.2, Hypertension secondary to other endocrine disorders). AAPC Strategy: Secondary hypertension (I15.-) always requires two codes: one for the hypertension and one for the underlying etiology. Sequencing depends on the circumstances of admission, but generally, the cause is listed first.
A patient is admitted at 27 weeks 6 days for preterm labor and remains in the hospital until delivering at 28 weeks 1 day. Which trimester code is used for the admission?
Show answer →The trimester is assigned based on the weeks of gestation at the time of the admission or encounter. Since the patient was 27 weeks 6 days upon admission, the 2nd trimester code is used for the entire stay. Guideline: If a condition develops during the stay, the trimester at the time of the condition's onset is used. However, for admission-specific reporting, the admission status prevails.
A patient has 3rd-degree burns on 15% of the body and 2nd-degree burns on 20% of the body. What is the correct 4th and 5th character for category T31 (Rule of Nines)?
Show answer →The 4th character represents the TOTAL TBSA (all degrees), and the 5th character represents the percentage of THIRD-DEGREE burns only. Total TBSA = 15% + 20% = 35% (Character 3). 3rd Degree TBSA = 15% (Character 1). Code: T31.31. Clinical Pearl: Category T31 is used as a primary code only when the site is unspecified, but it is REQUIRED as a supplementary code for all 3rd-degree burns involving 20% or more of TBSA, or when specified by the facility.
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Try 30 free CPC cards firstThe full CPC deck contains 1041 flashcards, and 90 of them focus on pathology. This page shows 5 free samples.
Our CPC deck dedicates 90 of 1041 cards (9%) to pathology — always cross-check the official AAPC exam outline for the current blueprint weighting.
Yes — the samples on this page are free, and the CPC preview page has 30 more free cards. Full access to all 1041 cards is a one-time $7.
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