CPC Exam Dumps : Certified Professional Coder (CPC) Exam

CPT Code 62290: Discography, lumbar, single or multiple levels, radiological supervision and interpretation

This code accurately describes the procedure performed. The documentation indicates a lumbar discography was performed at a single level (L3-4) with radiological supervision (C-arm visualization).

ICD-10-CM Code M54.50: Low back pain, unspecified

This code is the most appropriate diagnosis based on the documentation. The preoperative diagnosis states " Low back pain possible spinal stenosis L3-4. " While spinal stenosis was considered, it was not confirmed. The postoperative diagnosis indicates no evidence of spinal stenosis or discogenic pathology. Therefore, the definitive diagnosis is low back pain.

Why other options are incorrect:

62292: This code is for a discography with injection of contrast and/or medication for therapeutic purposes. The documentation doesn ' t indicate any therapeutic injection was performed.

M48.061 and M48.07: These codes represent spinal stenosis, which was not confirmed in the postoperative diagnosis.

1. Procedure and CPT® Code Selection:

The test ordered is a bile acid quantitation using an enzymatic method. This test measures the total bile acids in a patient with chronic hepatitis.

CPT® Code 82248 is specific for quantitation of bile acids, total, which is the correct code for a bile acid test using any method, including enzymatic.

2. Rationale for Excluding Other Options:

Code 82247 is used for the measurement of bilirubin, not bile acids, making it inappropriate for this test.

Code 82239 is for measuring an amino acid (gamma-glutamyl transferase), which is unrelated to bile acid quantitation.

Code 82252 is for a fecal bile acid screening, which is different from a quantitation of bile acids in serum or plasma.

3. AAPC and CPT® Coding Guidelines:

According to AAPC guidelines, 82248 should be selected for total bile acid quantitation regardless of the specific analytical method used.

Therefore, the correct answer is A. 82248.

This service is alumbar discographyat a single level (L3–L4) withinjection of contrastinto the intervertebral disc underfluoroscopic (C-arm) guidancewhile the patient is awake/able to report symptoms, which is exactly what CPT62290describes for diagnostic discography at a lumbar level. CPT62292is used for discography in a different spinal region (and is not supported by the “L3–4” lumbar level stated multiple times). The post-discography CT scan is referenced as planned/reviewed but is not clearly documented as performed/interpreted as part of this same physician service in the stem, and it is not part of the answer choices. For ICD-10-CM, the confirmed postoperative finding is “normal discography,” but the reason for the study remains the patient’slow back painand suspected stenosis; in outpatient/procedural settings you code thereason for the testwhen the definitive suspected condition is not confirmed. Here, the stenosis was ruled out (“no evidence”), so donotcode spinal stenosis; reportM54.50for low back pain. Therefore,62290 with M54.50is correct.