Certified Professional Coder (CPC) Quiz: Procedural And Diagnostic Terminology
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Procedural And Diagnostic TerminologyQuestion 1 of 20

In medical terminology, the suffix '-megaly' means:

Inflammation of an organ
Surgical removal of an organ
Visual examination of an organ
Abnormal enlargement of an organ
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Certified Professional Coder (CPC) Quiz

Certified Professional Coder (CPC) Quiz: Procedural And Diagnostic Terminology

Practice Procedural And Diagnostic Terminology in Certified Professional Coder (CPC) with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Procedural And Diagnostic Terminology, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for Certified Professional Coder (CPC).

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

All questions

Question 1

In medical terminology, the suffix '-megaly' means:

  1. Inflammation of an organ
  2. Surgical removal of an organ
  3. Visual examination of an organ
  4. Abnormal enlargement of an organ (correct answer)
Explanation: The suffix -megaly means abnormal enlargement of an organ or body part. Splenomegaly (splen- + -megaly) therefore means abnormal enlargement of the spleen. This suffix appears consistently: hepatomegaly (liver), cardiomegaly (heart), renomegaly (kidney), thyromegaly (thyroid), and acromegaly (extremities and face, due to excess growth hormone). Inflammation uses the suffix -itis (splenitis). Surgical removal uses -ectomy (splenectomy). Visual examination uses -scopy; there is no routine endoscopic examination of the spleen. Organomegaly is an important physical examination and imaging finding that is documented separately from the underlying diagnosis — for example, splenomegaly due to mononucleosis or liver disease is coded with both the organomegaly finding and the underlying cause when both are documented.

Question 2

The term 'dysuria' is best defined as:

  1. Painful or difficult urination (correct answer)
  2. Excessive urine production
  3. Absence of urine production
  4. Blood in the urine
Explanation: Dysuria is formed from dys- (difficult, painful, abnormal) and -uria (urination or urine condition). Together, the term means painful or difficult urination, a common symptom of urinary tract infections, urethritis, cystitis, and other genitourinary conditions. The prefix dys- consistently indicates difficulty or abnormality: dyspnea (difficult breathing), dysphagia (difficult swallowing), dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation). Excessive urine production is polyuria (poly- [many/much] + -uria). Absence of urine production is anuria (an- [without] + -uria). Blood in the urine is hematuria (hemat- [blood] + -uria). These four -uria combinations — dysuria, polyuria, anuria, and hematuria — represent some of the most commonly coded genitourinary symptoms and must be distinguished by their prefixes.

Question 3

The term 'bradycardia' is best defined as:

  1. Inflammation of the myocardium
  2. Enlargement of the heart
  3. Abnormally rapid heart rate
  4. Abnormally slow heart rate (correct answer)
Explanation: Bradycardia is formed from brady- (slow) and -cardia (heart rate/heart condition). Together, the term means an abnormally slow heart rate, typically defined as fewer than 60 beats per minute in adults. The prefix brady- consistently indicates slowness in medical terminology: bradypnea (slow breathing), bradykinesia (slow movement), and bradylalia (slow speech) follow the same pattern. Inflammation of the myocardium is myocarditis (myocardio- + -itis). Enlargement of the heart is cardiomegaly (cardio- + -megaly). Abnormally rapid heart rate is tachycardia (tachy- [fast] + -cardia), the direct opposite of bradycardia. The brady- versus tachy- prefix pair is among the most tested contrasting prefixes in medical terminology.

Question 4

The term 'hepatomegaly' is best defined as:

  1. Inflammation of the liver
  2. Enlargement of the liver (correct answer)
  3. Surgical removal of the liver
  4. Rupture of the liver
Explanation: Hepatomegaly is formed from hepat(o)- (liver) and -megaly (enlargement or abnormal increase in size). Together, the term means abnormal enlargement of the liver, which is a physical examination finding rather than a diagnosis. The -megaly suffix consistently indicates enlargement: splenomegaly (spleen), cardiomegaly (heart), acromegaly (extremities), and thyromegaly (thyroid). Inflammation of the liver is hepatitis (hepat- + -itis). Surgical removal of the liver (partial) is hepatectomy (hepat- + -ectomy). Rupture of the liver would use the root hepato- with the suffix -rrhexis (rupture). Organomegaly identified on physical examination or imaging is typically an important finding that prompts further workup and informs diagnosis coding when confirmed by a physician's documentation.

Question 5

The term 'rhinoplasty' is best defined as:

  1. Surgical removal of the nasal septum or nasal polyps
  2. Endoscopic examination of the nasal cavity
  3. Surgical reconstruction or reshaping of the nose (correct answer)
  4. Suture repair of a lacerated nasal structure
Explanation: Rhinoplasty is constructed from rhin(o)- (nose) and -plasty (surgical repair, reconstruction, or reshaping). Together, the term means surgical reconstruction or cosmetic reshaping of the nose, which may address both functional (septal deviation, airflow obstruction) and aesthetic concerns. The -plasty suffix consistently indicates reconstructive or repair surgery: mammoplasty (breast), tympanoplasty (eardrum), palatoplasty (palate), and angioplasty (vessel). Surgical removal of nasal polyps is polypectomy (-ectomy) or nasal polypectomy; removal of the nasal septum is a septectomy. Endoscopic examination of the nasal cavity is rhinoscopy (rhin- + -scopy). Suture repair of a nasal laceration would be a nasal wound repair, not rhinoplasty (-plasty implies reconstruction, not primary closure). Rhinoplasty may be reported with different CPT codes depending on whether it is cosmetic, reconstructive, or combined with septoplasty.

Question 6

The term 'polycythemia' is best defined as:

  1. Deficiency or abnormally low number of red blood cells
  2. Presence of abnormal or immature cell forms in the blood
  3. Malignant transformation of bone marrow precursor cells
  4. A condition characterized by an abnormally high number of blood cells, particularly red blood cells (correct answer)
Explanation: Polycythemia is formed from poly- (many, much, excessive), cyt(o)- (cell), hem(o)- (blood), and -ia (condition). Together, the term means a condition of too many blood cells, specifically an abnormally elevated red blood cell mass. Polycythemia vera is a myeloproliferative neoplasm in which the JAK2 mutation drives excessive red blood cell production. The prefix poly- consistently denotes multitude: polyuria (excessive urination), polyarthritis (involvement of multiple joints), polypharmacy (use of many medications). Deficiency or low cell count uses the suffix -penia (erythrocytopenia = low RBC count; anemia [an- + hemia] = low hemoglobin). Abnormal cell forms use descriptive terms like dysplasia or terms specific to the cell type. Malignant transformation of marrow precursors is leukemia (leuk- [white/blood] + -emia [blood condition]) or myeloma. Polycythemia is the excess-cell counterpart to anemia.

Question 7

Which term correctly describes difficulty with the production or comprehension of language (not swallowing)?

  1. Dysphagia
  2. Dysphonia
  3. Dysphasia (correct answer)
  4. Dyspnea
Explanation: Dysphasia is formed from dys- (difficult, impaired) and -phasia (speech, language production/comprehension). Dysphasia describes impaired language function — difficulty speaking, understanding language, naming objects, or repeating words — commonly seen after stroke or brain injury. Dysphasia and aphasia (a- [without] + -phasia = total loss of language) are both language disorders on the same spectrum; dysphasia implies partial impairment, aphasia implies complete loss. Dysphagia (dys- + -phagia [swallowing]) describes difficulty swallowing — a completely different symptom that may coexist with, but is distinct from, language impairment. Dysphonia (dys- + -phonia [voice]) describes difficulty producing normal vocal sound (hoarseness, voice change) due to laryngeal or vocal cord pathology. Dyspnea (dys- + -pnea [breathing]) describes difficulty breathing. The -phasia (language), -phagia (swallowing), -phonia (voice), and -pnea (breathing) suffixes are easily confused and must be carefully distinguished in documentation and coding.

Question 8

A hematologist performs a procedure for a patient with suspected leukemia. The operative note is titled "Myelogram and Bone Marrow Biopsy." Based on the word root "myel/o," the coder understands the tissue sample was taken from which location?

  1. The muscle tissue of the thigh.
  2. The myelin sheath of a peripheral nerve.
  3. The spinal cord, by aspirating cerebrospinal fluid.
  4. The bone marrow, typically from the iliac crest. (correct answer)
Explanation: Understanding medical terminology requires mastering word roots, and "myel/o" is a crucial one that appears frequently in medical coding. This root relates to bone marrow, which is why procedures involving bone marrow sampling use terms like "myelogram." When you see "myelogram and bone marrow biopsy" in an operative note, the "myel/o" root confirms you're dealing with bone marrow tissue. A myelogram specifically refers to an examination of bone marrow cells, typically obtained through aspiration from sites like the iliac crest (hip bone), which is the most common location due to its accessibility and large marrow cavity. Looking at the wrong answers: Choice A incorrectly associates "myel/o" with muscle tissue, but muscle-related terms use "my/o" or "muscul/o" as roots. Choice B confuses "myel/o" with myelin, but while both relate to the nervous system in different ways, myelin sheaths use "myelin/o" as their root. Choice C misidentifies the procedure as spinal cord sampling, but cerebrospinal fluid aspiration would be described using terms like "lumbar puncture" or procedures involving "cerebr/o" roots. The correct answer is D because "myel/o" specifically denotes bone marrow, and the iliac crest is indeed the typical sampling site for bone marrow biopsies. Study tip: Create a reference card of common word roots like "myel/o" (bone marrow), "my/o" (muscle), and "myelin/o" (nerve covering). Many CPC questions test whether you can distinguish between similar-sounding medical terms, so knowing these roots prevents costly mix-ups.

Question 9

A pulmonologist's report on a bronchoscopy describes inflammation observed in several small bronchi. For coding purposes, if a single, specific inflamed passage needed to be documented, what is the correct singular form of "bronchi"?

  1. Bronchium
  2. Broncha
  3. Bronchus (correct answer)
  4. Bronchix
Explanation: When coding pulmonology procedures, you'll encounter many anatomical terms with Latin or Greek origins that follow specific pluralization rules. Understanding these patterns helps ensure accurate documentation and coding. The word "bronchi" is the plural form of a Latin-derived anatomical term. In Latin, words ending in "-us" typically form their plural by changing the "-us" to "-i." Therefore, "bronchi" (the plural referring to multiple bronchial passages) has the singular form "bronchus" (referring to one bronchial passage). This follows the same pattern as other medical terms like "alveolus/alveoli" or "nucleus/nuclei." Looking at the incorrect options: A) "Bronchium" incorrectly applies the "-um" ending, which would pluralize to "-a," not "-i." This represents confusion with a different Latin declension pattern. B) "Broncha" has no basis in medical terminology and appears to be a made-up form. D) "Bronchix" also has no medical validity and seems to confuse Latin patterns with other linguistic rules. The correct answer is C) Bronchus, which properly represents the singular form of this anatomical structure. For the CPC exam, memorize common Latin medical term patterns: "-us" becomes "-i" in plural (bronchus/bronchi, calculus/calculi), "-um" becomes "-a" (bacterium/bacteria), and "-a" becomes "-ae" (vertebra/vertebrae). These anatomical terms appear frequently in operative reports and diagnostic statements, so knowing their correct singular and plural forms is essential for accurate coding and documentation review.

Question 10

A patient's laboratory results show an abnormally high number of red blood cells. The physician documents the final diagnosis as "Polycythemia vera." What does the prefix "poly-" in this diagnosis indicate?

  1. Many or excessive. (correct answer)
  2. Below normal or deficient.
  3. Red or reddish in color.
  4. Varied or irregular in shape.
Explanation: When you encounter medical terminology questions on the CPC exam, breaking down word parts is essential for accurate coding and understanding diagnoses. Medical terms are built from prefixes, root words, and suffixes that each carry specific meanings. The prefix "poly-" comes from Greek and means "many" or "excessive." In "polycythemia vera," this prefix indicates an abnormally high number of cells. The root "cyt" means cell, and "emia" refers to a blood condition, so polycythemia literally translates to "many cells in the blood" - specifically referring to an excessive number of red blood cells. Looking at why the other options are incorrect: Option B ("below normal or deficient") describes prefixes like "hypo-" or "oligo-," not "poly-." Option C ("red or reddish in color") relates to prefixes like "erythr-" or "rubr-," which you might see in terms like erythrocyte (red blood cell). Option D ("varied or irregular in shape") would be indicated by prefixes like "pleio-" or "aniso-." The correct answer is A because "poly-" consistently means "many" or "excessive" across medical terminology - you'll see this in terms like polyuria (excessive urination), polydipsia (excessive thirst), and polyneuropathy (affecting many nerves). Study tip: Create a reference sheet of common medical prefixes and their meanings. The CPC exam frequently tests your ability to decode medical terms, and knowing key prefixes like poly-, hypo-, hyper-, and brady- will help you understand diagnoses even when you haven't memorized the specific condition.

Question 11

A patient with severe, debilitating arthritis of the ankle who has not responded to conservative treatment undergoes a procedure documented as an "ankle arthrodesis." What was accomplished during this surgery?

  1. The joint was visually examined using a fiberoptic instrument.
  2. The ankle joint was surgically immobilized by fusion of the bones. (correct answer)
  3. Synovial fluid was aspirated from the ankle joint for laboratory analysis.
  4. The damaged articular surfaces of the ankle joint were replaced with a prosthesis.
Explanation: When you encounter surgical terminology on the CPC exam, understanding root words and suffixes is crucial for identifying what procedure was actually performed. The term "arthrodesis" breaks down into "arthro-" (joint) and "-desis" (surgical fixation or fusion). Arthrodesis is a surgical procedure that permanently fuses bones across a joint to eliminate movement and pain. In this case, the ankle bones are surgically joined together using bone grafts, screws, plates, or rods. The goal is to create one solid bone structure where the joint used to be, eliminating the painful bone-on-bone contact that occurs in severe arthritis. This makes option B correct. Looking at the incorrect choices: Option A describes arthroscopy, which uses the suffix "-scopy" meaning visual examination. This minimally invasive diagnostic procedure wouldn't address severe, debilitating arthritis requiring surgical intervention. Option C refers to arthrocentesis, where "-centesis" indicates puncture and drainage. While this might be done for diagnosis, it's not a definitive treatment for end-stage arthritis. Option D describes total joint replacement (arthroplasty), where "-plasty" means surgical repair or reconstruction. Though this is another treatment for severe arthritis, the question specifically states "arthrodesis" was performed. Remember that surgical suffixes are your roadmap on coding exams: "-desis" always means fusion, "-scopy" means looking, "-centesis" means puncturing to withdraw fluid, and "-plasty" means reconstruction. Master these common suffixes to quickly eliminate wrong answers and identify the correct procedure.

Question 12

A patient with a right knee meniscal tear undergoes an arthroscopy. The surgeon's report notes that during the procedure, a decision was made to also perform a prophylactic procedure on the contralateral knee.

Based on the passage, how should the coder interpret the term 'contralateral'?

  1. A procedure was performed on the opposite (left) knee. (correct answer)
  2. A procedure was performed on the same (right) knee but at a different site.
  3. Procedures were performed on both sides of the same joint.
  4. A procedure was performed on the back of the right knee.
Explanation: Understanding medical directional terminology is crucial for accurate coding, especially when procedures involve paired anatomical structures like knees, shoulders, or eyes. The term "contralateral" appears frequently in operative reports and requires precise interpretation. "Contralateral" means "on the opposite side." When the passage states that the patient had a right knee meniscal tear and the surgeon performed a prophylactic procedure on the contralateral knee, this means the procedure was done on the opposite knee - the left knee. The prefix "contra-" means against or opposite, while "lateral" refers to side. Answer A correctly identifies that a procedure was performed on the opposite (left) knee. This is the standard medical interpretation of contralateral. Answer B is incorrect because it describes an ipsilateral procedure - one performed on the same side but at a different location. "Ipsilateral" means same side, which is the opposite of contralateral. Answer C misinterprets the term as bilateral, meaning both sides. While procedures can be bilateral, contralateral specifically refers to the opposite side from the original procedure site. Answer D confuses anatomical direction with anatomical position. "Contralateral" refers to the opposite side of the body, not the back versus front of the same structure (which would be posterior versus anterior). Remember this key distinction: contralateral = opposite side, ipsilateral = same side, bilateral = both sides. When you see "contralateral" in operative reports, immediately think "opposite side" to avoid coding the wrong anatomical location.

Question 13

The term 'cholecystectomy' is best defined as:

  1. Surgical removal of the gallbladder (correct answer)
  2. Surgical creation of an opening into the gallbladder
  3. Inflammation of the gallbladder
  4. Endoscopic visual examination of the gallbladder
Explanation: Cholecystectomy is formed from three word parts: chole- (bile), cyst (bladder, referring here to the gallbladder), and the suffix -ectomy (surgical excision or removal). Together, the term means surgical removal of the gallbladder. The suffix -ectomy consistently denotes excision or removal of a structure in medical terminology. Surgical creation of a permanent opening into the gallbladder would be a cholecystostomy (-stomy = creation of an opening/stoma). Inflammation of the gallbladder is cholecystitis (-itis = inflammation). Endoscopic visual examination is not a procedure typically performed on the gallbladder; endoscopic examination of other hollow organs uses the suffix -scopy. Recognizing -ectomy as the removal suffix is foundational to understanding surgical procedure terminology across all body systems.

Question 14

The term 'nephrolithiasis' is best defined as:

  1. Presence of calculi (stones) in the urinary tract, specifically the kidneys or ureters (correct answer)
  2. Inflammation of the kidney
  3. Surgical removal of the kidney
  4. Abnormal downward displacement (prolapse) of the kidney
Explanation: Nephrolithiasis is constructed from nephr(o)- (kidney), lith (stone), and -iasis (an abnormal condition or presence of something). Together, the term denotes the condition of having stones in the kidney or urinary tract. Inflammation of the kidney is nephritis (nephr- + -itis). Surgical removal of the kidney is nephrectomy (nephr- + -ectomy). Abnormal prolapse or downward displacement of the kidney is nephroptosis (nephr- + -ptosis, meaning falling or drooping). Lithiasis as a root (-lith + -iasis) consistently refers to stone formation or the presence of calculi across the body: cholelithiasis (gallstones), urolithiasis (urinary tract stones), and sialolithiasis (salivary gland stones) follow the same construction.

Question 15

The term 'tachypnea' is best defined as:

  1. Difficulty or painful breathing
  2. Cessation of breathing (absence of respirations)
  3. Slow breathing rate
  4. Abnormally rapid breathing rate (correct answer)
Explanation: Tachypnea is constructed from tachy- (fast, rapid) and -pnea (breathing). Together, the term means an abnormally rapid respiratory rate. In adults, a rate greater than 20 breaths per minute is generally considered tachypnea; in children, age-adjusted norms apply. The prefix tachy- consistently denotes speed: tachycardia (fast heart rate) and tachylalia (rapid speech) follow the same pattern. Difficulty or painful breathing is dyspnea (dys- [difficult/painful] + -pnea). Cessation of breathing is apnea (a- [without/absence] + -pnea). Abnormally slow breathing is bradypnea (brady- [slow] + -pnea). The tachy- versus brady- prefix pairing and the -pnea suffix family are fundamental to respiratory and cardiology terminology and frequently appear in diagnostic coding scenarios.

Question 16

The term 'oophorectomy' is best defined as:

  1. Surgical fixation of the ovary to prevent torsion
  2. Surgical creation of an opening in the ovary
  3. Surgical removal of an ovary (correct answer)
  4. Surgical repair or reconstruction of the ovary
Explanation: Oophorectomy is constructed from oophor(o)- (ovary) and -ectomy (surgical removal or excision). Together, the term means surgical removal of an ovary. This suffix is consistent: -ectomy always indicates removal. Surgical fixation of the ovary (to prevent torsion) would be oophoropexy (oophor- + -pexy [surgical fixation]). Surgical creation of an opening in the ovary is not a standard term; cyst drainage procedures use fenestration or aspiration terms. Surgical repair or reconstruction would use -plasty. A salpingo-oophorectomy removes both the fallopian tube and ovary on one side; a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy removes both tubes and both ovaries. The -pexy suffix family (oophoropexy, nephropexy, hysteropexy) describes fixation procedures important to distinguish from -ectomy (removal) in procedure coding.

Question 17

The suffix '-rrhaphy' in 'tenorrhaphy' means:

  1. Incision into the tendon for exploration
  2. Surgical suture repair of a torn or lacerated structure (correct answer)
  3. Surgical removal of a tendon
  4. Fixation or attachment of a tendon to bone
Explanation: The suffix -rrhaphy means surgical suture or repair of a torn, lacerated, or weakened structure. Tenorrhaphy (ten/o- [tendon] + -rrhaphy) therefore means suture repair of a tendon. This suffix is used across multiple structures: herniorrhaphy (hernia repair), splenorrhaphy (suture repair of a ruptured spleen), myorrhaphy (muscle suture repair), and neurorrhaphy (nerve suture repair). Incision into the tendon for drainage or exploration would be tenotomy (-tomy = incision). Surgical removal of a tendon is tenectomy (-ectomy). Fixation of a tendon to bone would be tenodesis (ten- + -desis [binding/fusion/fixation]), used to anchor a tendon at a new point. The -rrhaphy suffix is critical in distinguishing repair procedures from removal (-ectomy), incision (-tomy), and fixation (-desis or -pexy) procedures in musculoskeletal coding.

Question 18

The term 'nephrectomy' is best defined as:

  1. Creation of a surgically placed tube from the kidney to the skin surface
  2. Surgical removal of the kidney (correct answer)
  3. Surgical fixation of the kidney to the posterior abdominal wall
  4. Endoscopic examination of the renal pelvis
Explanation: Nephrectomy is constructed from nephr(o)- (kidney) and -ectomy (surgical excision or removal). Together, the term means surgical removal of the kidney. A partial nephrectomy removes only a portion; a radical nephrectomy removes the entire kidney with perirenal fat and fascial structures. Creation of a tube from the kidney to the skin for urinary drainage is a nephrostomy (-stomy = creation of a stoma/opening). Surgical fixation of the kidney to prevent downward displacement is nephropexy (nephr- + -pexy [fixation]). Endoscopic examination of the renal pelvis is nephroscopy (nephr- + -scopy). The four procedural suffixes — -ectomy (removal), -stomy (opening), -pexy (fixation), -scopy (visualization) — applied to the root nephr(o)- create four distinct and commonly coded procedures.

Question 19

The prefix 'hyper-' in 'hypertension' means:

  1. Abnormally low or below normal
  2. Rapid or fast
  3. Abnormally high or above normal (correct answer)
  4. Around or surrounding
Explanation: The prefix hyper- means abnormally high, excessive, or above normal. Hypertension (hyper- + tension) therefore means abnormally elevated arterial blood pressure. This prefix is consistent across the terminology: hyperglycemia (high blood glucose), hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol), hyperkalemia (high potassium), hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), and hyperbilirubinemia (elevated bilirubin). The direct opposite prefix is hypo- (below normal, deficient): hypotension (low blood pressure), hypoglycemia (low blood glucose), hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). Rapid or fast uses the prefix tachy-. Around or surrounding uses peri-. The hyper- versus hypo- prefix pair is among the most clinically significant in medical terminology and directly affects ICD-10-CM code selection (e.g., hyperthyroidism vs. hypothyroidism, hyperkalemia vs. hypokalemia).

Question 20

The prefix 'endo-' in 'endoscopy' means:

  1. Between two anatomic structures
  2. Around the exterior of a body cavity
  3. Outside or external to the body
  4. Within or inside a body cavity or hollow organ (correct answer)
Explanation: The prefix endo- means within or inside. Endoscopy (endo- + -scopy [visual examination]) therefore means visual examination performed from within a body cavity or hollow organ using a flexible or rigid instrument. Endo- appears widely: endotracheal (within the trachea), endocardial (within the heart), endometrium (inner layer of the uterus), endovascular (within a blood vessel). Between two structures uses the prefix inter- (e.g., intercostal = between ribs). Around the exterior uses peri- (e.g., peritoneal = around abdominal organs). Outside the body uses extra- or exo- (e.g., extracorporeal = outside the body, as in ESWL). The related prefix exo- is the direct opposite of endo- (e.g., exocrine [secreting outward] vs. endocrine [secreting internally]). Endo- is foundational to understanding the naming conventions for many diagnostic and interventional procedures.