Certified Professional Coder (CPC) Practice Test

What was indicated in the final pathology report following the thyroidectomy?

1. The tissue was non-cancerous

2. The tumor was malignant

3. More testing was required

4. The tissue was benign

The correct answer is: The tumor was malignant

The final pathology report following a thyroidectomy that indicates the tumor was malignant signifies that cancer was present in the thyroid tissue that was removed. This is a crucial finding as it determines the subsequent treatment and management options for the patient. If a tumor is characterized as malignant, it means that it has the potential to invade nearby tissues or metastasize to other parts of the body. This information is vital for establishing the severity of the disease and planning for possible follow-up treatments, which may include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or additional surgeries. In contrast, if the pathology report indicated that the tissue was non-cancerous, benign, or required more testing, it would alter the patient’s treatment plan significantly. Non-cancerous or benign findings would typically involve monitoring rather than aggressive treatment, while requiring more testing would imply uncertainty about the nature of the tumor, delaying definitive management. Thus, the clarity of a malignant result emphasizes the need for a carefully structured follow-up approach to address the identified cancer.