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Exam Study Guide

Initial Qualifying exam
Oral exam

The Initial Qualifying Exam

The Initial Qualifying examination will include the basic sciences of anatomy, biochemistry, pathology, physiology and pharmacology, as these subjects relate to the clinical practice of diagnostic radiology. Also included are radiologic technique, radiologic physics, and radiation biology.

SI units of measure will be used unless common practice dictates otherwise. The examination will include material from NRC regulations as they pertain to nuclear radiology. See NRC regulations.

New cognitive examinations are prepared each year in all categories of diagnostic radiology. Content of the examinations is carefully evaluated in order to keep current with new information and developments. The number of questions in each category may be changed each year.

Each examination consists of multiple-choice, one-best-response questions.

The content of the cognitive examination in diagnostic radiology includes the following:

Part I: Physics of Medical Imaging, Biological Effects, and Safety

Emphasis is placed on the principles and applications of physics, technology, statistical analysis, visual perception, dosimetry, radiation biology, exposure management, safety, and quality assurance as they apply to the practice of diagnostic, interventional, and nuclear radiology.

 Topics include:

• General Radiography
• Mammography
• Fluoroscopy/Fluorography
• Digital X-ray Imaging
• Computed Tomography
• Nuclear Radiology
• Ultrasound
• Magnetic Resonance
• Radiation Safety/Protection
• Radiation Biology/Effects
• NRC-related materials (See NRC regulations.)

 

Part II: Clinical Diagnostic Imaging

Emphasis is placed on basic science aspects as they relate to the various subspecialty areas. Thus, the examination questions fundamentally deal with the anatomical, physiological, and pathological aspects of each of the diagnostic categories. The exam includes questions on radiologic technique. There may be questions on clinical medical physics, management, accreditation, compliance, outcomes analysis, and appropriateness.

 Categories include:

• Musculoskeletal
• Thoracic
• Cardiac
• Gastrointestinal
• Genitourinary
• Neuroradiology
• Vascular/Interventional
• Nuclear, including NRC-related materials
• Ultrasound
• Pediatric Radiology
• Breast
• Ethics
• Critical Thinking

The Oral Exam

In general, the oral examination consists of image interpretation and problems regarding clinical application, including patient management. Computerized display of images is used in all categories of the examination. The oral diagnostic radiology examinations include each of the following subjects:

Subject	Includes
Musculoskeletal	Plain film diagnosis in all areas of the musculoskeletal system, plus any related procedures including computerized tomography, interventional techniques, and magnetic resonance imaging.
Thoracic	Plain film diagnosis, CT, MRI, and interventional techniques used in the diagnosis of diseases of the lungs, pleura, and mediastinum, including the heart and great vessels.
Gastrointestinal	Plain radiograph interpretation, contrast studies of the GI tract, and abdominal imaging studies, including computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, and interventional techniques related to the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, biliary tract, liver, spleen, pancreas, peritoneal cavity, and abdominal wall.
Genitourinary	Plain film diagnosis, contrast studies, and any special procedures related to these organ systems, including computerized tomography, ultrasound, interventional techniques, and magnetic resonance imaging.
Neuroradiology	Plain film diagnosis of the skull, sinuses, mastoids, spinal, and head and neck structures, and all other imaging and special procedures related to the central nervous system and head and neck, including angiography, myelography, interventional techniques, and magnetic resonance imaging.
Vascular and Interventional Radiology	The diagnosis of all abnormalities and anomalies of the arteries, veins, and lymphatics. It includes all vascular and nonvascular imaging-directed interventional procedures. All modalities and techniques used in diagnostic and interventional procedures are also part of this category.
Nuclear	Dynamic and static nuclear imaging of pathophysiologic processes, radiopharmaceuticals, quality control of nuclear imaging instruments, and NRC-related materials.
Ultrasonography	The diagnosis of all abnormalities and anomalies of the arteries, veins, and lymphatics. It includes all vascular and nonvascular imaging-directed interventional procedures. All modalities and techniques used in diagnostic and interventional procedures are also part of this category.
Pediatric Radiology	Imaging procedures for the diagnosis of diseases of infants and children, such as plain film radiography, contrast studies, ultrasonography, nuclear radiology, computerized tomography, digital radiography, angiography, interventional techniques, magnetic resonance imaging, and congenital heart disease.
Breast	Mammography, ultrasonography, contrast studies, special procedures related to the diagnosis of breast disease, and basic knowledge of the epidemiology and treatment of breast disease.
Cardiac	Virtual examination which is composed of cardiac cases included in the categories of pediatrics, vascular interventional, nuclear, and thoracic. All imaging modalities that relate to anatomy, function, and diseases of the heart and great vessels may be included.

No beeper, recorder, camera, PDA, cellular phone, or any device that has the capability to record pictures, text, or sound can be brought into the examination area.

No candidate is permitted to bring into the examination any notes, textbooks, calculators or other reference materials. No scratch paper is available without permission.

Irregular behavior such as copying answers, sharing information, using notes, or otherwise giving or obtaining unauthorized information or aid, evidenced by observation, statistical analysis of answers, or otherwise, on any portion of the examination will be reported to the Board and will constitute grounds for the invalidation of an examination, and may lead to the candidate's being judged unacceptable for certification by the Board.

YOU AGREE TO THIS BY SIGNATURE WHEN YOU FILE YOUR REGISTRATION.