FRCR 1 Sample MCQs and syllabus

First FRCR Examination in Clinical Radiology
Sample MCQs

The bold headings indicate the section of the syllabus that the question addresses.

1.1 Basic Physics
1 In the Compton effect:
(a) There is interaction between a photon and a free electron.
(b) The larger the angle through which the photon is scattered, the more energy it loses.
(c) The wavelength change produced depends upon the scattering material.
(d) High energy radiation is scattered more than lower energy radiation.
(e) The amount of scattering that occurs depends on the electron density of the scattering material.


1.2 Radiation Hazards and Dosimetry
2 Concerning radiation dose:
(a) PA chest x-ray effective dose is approximately 0.02 mSv.
(b) Annual effective dose limit for members of the public is 5 mSv.
(c) Average annual dose in the UK from natural background radiation is 0.1 Sv.
(d) The average annual effective dose to the UK population from medical exposure is 3 mSv.
(e) Effective dose to patients having a radionuclide bone scan with 600 MBq technetium-99m is approximately 4 mSv.


2.1 General Radiation Protection
3 In diagnostic radiology, the following values are typical:
(a) 5 mSv is the annual effective dose limit for classified staff.
(b) 1 mGy for skin dose to the patient in chest radiography.
(c) 2 mm lead equivalence for a lead rubber apron.
(d) 25 mGy per minute for entrance dose rate to patient during abdominal fluoroscopy.
(e) 4 GBq of iodine-131 for a diagnostic thyroid scan.


3.1 Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999
4 An employee must become a classified worker if
(a) they work more than three sessions per week with ionising radiation.
(b) three tenths of relevant dose limit is exceeded.
(c) they are likely to receive a whole body dose greater than 6 mSv annually.
(d) the dose to their hands is likely to exceed 150 mSv annually.
(e) they become pregnant.


3.2 & 3.3 Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000 and Other Relevant Legislation
5 Regarding The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000 [IR(ME)R]:
(a) Overall responsibility for keeping dose to the patient as low as reasonably practicable rests with the practitioner.
(b) The practitioner is the only person entitled to authorise an x-ray exposure.
(c) Only doctors and dentists are permitted to request an x-ray.
(d) The person performing quality control tests on an isotope calibrator must have training as required by IR(ME)R.
(e) The enforcing authority for IR(ME)R is the Health and Safety Executive.


4.1 Diagnostic Radiology
6 Radiological image unsharpness increases
(a) if shorter exposure times are used.
(b) as the object to film distance increases.
(c) as the target angle decreases.
(d) if a grid is used.
(e) as the focal spot size increases.


4.2 Fluoroscopy and Fluorography
7 In automatic mode fluoroscopy, the patient entrance surface dose rate
(a) usually increases with image intensifier field size.
(b) depends on the added filtration.
(c) is independent of the kV-mA characteristic used.
(d) doubles if the patient-intensifier face distance is halved.
(e) should be less than 50 mGym-1.


4.3 Computed Tomography
8 Regarding computed tomography:
(a) A CT number of 0 is assigned to water.
(b) Image quality is limited by electronic noise.
(c) Axial image resolution is improved with reduction in slice width.
(d) An unfiltered x-ray beam is used.
(e) The typical effective dose for a CT head scan is 10 mSv.


4.4 Patient Dosimetry
9 The dose to a patient may be reduced by using
(a) a grid.
(b) collimators.
(c) additional copper filters.
(d) a high tube voltage.
(e) a small focal spot.


4.5 Radionuclide Radiology
10 Concerning radiopharmaceuticals:
(a) The ideal radiopharmaceutical should have as short a physical halflife as possible.
(b) The ideal imaging radiopharmaceutical should emit only gamma radiation.
(c) The gamma radiation emitted contributes a larger part of the radiation dose to the patient than any accompanying beta radiation.
(d) The effective half-life is longer than the biological half-life.
(e) The labelling isotope should remain attached to the tracer material throughout the examination.

Reference-

First FRCR Examination in Clinical Radiology (RCR)