For the diagnostic statement 'trochanteric bursitis of the right hip,' the main term to reference is trochanteric.

For the diagnostic statement 'trochanteric bursitis of the right hip,' the main term to reference is trochanteric.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not Applicable
• D. Both

Answer: (B)

In medical coding, you start with the disease process as the main term. In the diagnosis “trochanteric bursitis of the right hip,” the condition is bursitis, while trochanteric and right hip specify the site and side. So the main term you reference is bursitis, not trochanteric. The site descriptor (trochanteric) is used as a subterm to pinpoint which bursitis you’re coding, with the hip and right side added to capture location and laterality. This is why the statement is false—the primary term is bursitis, not trochanteric.

In medical coding, you start with the disease process as the main term. In the diagnosis “trochanteric bursitis of the right hip,” the condition is bursitis, while trochanteric and right hip specify the site and side. So the main term you reference is bursitis, not trochanteric. The site descriptor (trochanteric) is used as a subterm to pinpoint which bursitis you’re coding, with the hip and right side added to capture location and laterality. This is why the statement is false—the primary term is bursitis, not trochanteric.