Table Of ContentMCQs for the FRCR Part 1
by
Monica Khanna BSc (Hons) MBBS MRCS
DepartmentofClinicalRadiology
Guy’sandStThomas’Hospitals
London
Leon Menezes MA BM BCh MRCP
DepartmentofClinicalRadiology
Guy’sandStThomas’Hospitals
London
David Gallagher BSc MPhil CPhys MInst P
DepartmentofMedicalPhysics
Guy’sandStThomas’Hospitals
London
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First published in print format 2004
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Contents
Preface............................................................................................ vii
List of Abbreviations...................................................................... ix
Section 1 – Questions
Examination One............................................................................ 3
Examination Two............................................................................ 13
Examination Three......................................................................... 21
Examination Four........................................................................... 31
Examination Five............................................................................ 39
Examination Six.............................................................................. 47
Examination Seven......................................................................... 55
Section 2 – Answers
Examination One............................................................................ 65
Examination Two............................................................................ 79
Examination Three......................................................................... 93
Examination Four...........................................................................107
Examination Five............................................................................119
Examination Six..............................................................................133
Examination Seven.........................................................................143
vv
Preface
This book is intended primarily for specialist registrars in
clinical radiology who are sitting the first examination for the
Fellowship of the Royal College of Radiologists. The multiple
choice questions have been specifically arranged as practice
papers, and have been written to reflect the number and style
of the questions in the part one examination.
Anyone else who uses ionising radiation in their work will profit
from studying this book, such as radiographers, nuclear physicians,
and cardiologists.
Our aim is to help you pass the examination by testing your
knowledge of the examination syllabus which covers the physics
and regulations governing ionising radiation. This book will aid
you greatly in refining your technique in answering negatively
marked multiple choice questions as well as alerting you to
areas of your knowledge that require further study. We hope
the detailed answers will act as useful revision notes.
Good Luck!
M.K.
L.J.M.
D.G.
London, 2004
vii
List of Abbreviations
ALARP As low as reasonably practicable
ARSAC Administration of radioactive substances advisory
committee
CT Computed tomography
DAP Dose area product
DRL Diagnostic reference level
ED Effective dose
EMR Electromagnetic radiation
ESD Entrance surface dose
FOV Field of view
GI Gastro-intestinal
GP General Practitioner
Gy Gray
HSE Health and Safety Executive
HVL Half value layer
ICRP International Commission on Radiological Protection
II Image Intensifier
IRR Ionising Radiation Regulations
MTF Modulation transfer function
NHS National Health Services
PET Positron emission tomography
RPA Radiation Protection Adviser
RPS Radiation Protection Supervisor
SPECT Single photon emission computed tomography
Sv Sievert
TL Thermoluminescent
TLD Thermoluminescent dosimetry
W Radiation weighting factor
R
W Tissue weighting factor
T
ix
Symbols, constants and definitions used in the text
A (cid:1) mass number (number of neutrons plus protons in
nucleus)
e (cid:1) charge on the electron (1.6 (cid:2) 10(cid:3)19C)
E (cid:1) photon energy (J or eV)
E (cid:1) Effective Dose (Sv)
eV (cid:1) electron volt (1.6 (cid:2) 10(cid:3)19J) (energy acquired by an
electron when accelerated through 1 volt potential
difference)
h (cid:1) Planck’s constant (6.62 (cid:2) 10(cid:3)34J.Hz(cid:3)1)
f (cid:1) frequency (Hz)
N (cid:1) Avogadro’s number (6.02 (cid:2) 1023)
Z (cid:1) atomic number (number of protons in nucleus)
(cid:4) (cid:1) wavelength (m)
(cid:5) (cid:1) mass density (kgm(cid:3)3)
(cid:6) (cid:1) linear attenuation coefficient (m(cid:3)1)
(cid:7) (cid:1) Compton linear attenuation coefficient (m(cid:3)1)
(cid:8) (cid:1) Photoelectric linear attenuation coefficient (m(cid:3)1)
Film (cid:9) (cid:1) Steepness of the characteristic curve
Gamma ((cid:9)) rays: electromagnetic radiation of nuclear origin
Kerma: Kinetic energy released per unit mass is the sum of the
initial kinetic energies of charged ionising particles (or photons)
released by incident uncharged particles (or photons) per unit
mass of stopping medium.
X-rays: electromagnetic radiation produced in atomic orbital
energy transitions
x
Section 1 – Questions
Examination One ............................................................................ 3
Examination Two ............................................................................ 13
Examination Three.......................................................................... 21
Examination Four............................................................................ 31
Examination Five ............................................................................ 39
Examination Six .............................................................................. 47
Examination Seven.......................................................................... 55
Examination One Questions
Q 1. Beta particles:
A. do contribute to patient absorbed dose
B. before coming to rest may travel in tissue for
several millimetres
C. increase atomic number by one
D. change mass number in the nucleus
E. are emitted from the nucleus
Q 2. Electron capture:
A. occurs in neutron poor radionuclides
B. results in the emission of characteristic X-rays
C. the atomic number remains the same
D. the atomic mass number remains the same
E. 123I decays wholly by electron capture
Q 3. The isotopes of an element have:
A. identical atomic numbers
B. identical atomic mass numbers
C. identical physical properties
D. identical chemical properties
E. the same density
Q 4. Radioactivity:
A. a radionuclide is an atom with an unstable nucleus
B. the activity of a radionuclide is the number of
decays per hour
C. unit of activity is the Becquerel
D. radioactivity is a stochastic process
E. the daughter product is always radioactive
MCQs MCQs for the FRCR Part 1 3
