American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Certification Practice Exam

What does the 76942 CPT code indicate in a medical procedure?

1. Placement of a localization clip

2. Ultrasound guidance supervision and interpretation

3. Fine needle aspiration

4. Microscopic examination

The correct answer is: Ultrasound guidance supervision and interpretation

The CPT code 76942 specifically denotes "Ultrasound guidance, imaging supervision and interpretation." This code is used to indicate that a medical professional has utilized ultrasound technology to guide a procedure and has also provided the necessary supervision and interpretation of the ultrasound images during the process. The necessity of using ultrasound guidance is crucial in ensuring precision for various interventions, such as biopsies or the placement of localization clips, which enhances patient safety and procedural accuracy. In this context, it's important to note that while other options may involve aspects of procedures related to ultrasound or imaging diagnostics, they do not encapsulate the complete definition provided by the 76942 code. For instance, the placement of localization clips typically uses ultrasound guidance but does not provide a full description of the supervision and interpretation aspect. Similarly, fine needle aspiration can be guided by ultrasound, yet it is specifically identified by a different CPT code entirely. Lastly, microscopic examination pertains to pathology services rather than the guidance and imaging interpretation performed during a medical procedure.