American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) Practice Exam

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Prepare for the American Academy of Professional Coders exam with our comprehensive quiz, featuring multiple-choice questions designed to enhance your coding skills and knowledge. Ideal for aspiring medical coders looking to succeed in the certification process.

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The procedure referenced by the suffix -ectomy is primarily concerned with?

Examination of
Surgical removal
Instrument for viewing
Surgical fixation

The correct answer is: Surgical removal

The suffix "-ectomy" is derived from Greek, where "ectomy" means the surgical removal of a specific body part or organ. In medical terminology, this suffix is commonly used to identify procedures that involve the excision or removal of tissue. For example, a hysterectomy involves the surgical removal of the uterus, while an appendectomy refers to the removal of the appendix. This clear and direct association with surgical removal makes "-ectomy" a distinctive suffix in the realm of surgical procedures, specifically pointing to actions that result in the disposition of tissues or organs from the body. The other options relate to different concepts in medical terminology. Examination pertains to assessment and diagnosis, which does not involve any physical removal of tissue. Instrument for viewing refers to tools like endoscopes, which are used for visualization rather than excising, and surgical fixation implies stabilization or anchoring of structures rather than their removal. Therefore, the focus on surgical removal associated with "-ectomy" stands out as the primary concern of the procedures described by this suffix.