ABPS Radiation Oncology study guide
ABPS Radiation Oncology · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The ABPS Radiation Oncology credential is a board certification offered by the American Board of Physician Specialties for physicians who have completed radiation oncology training and want board certification through that board rather than through the ABR. It is aimed at practicing radiation oncologists and graduating residents who intend to deliver and supervise radiotherapy across the full clinical spectrum, from definitive multidisciplinary management to palliation. The ABPS Radiation Oncology study guide has 8 sections and about 1,907 words.
01Clinical Radiation Oncology: Disease Sites and Multidisciplinary Management
For each major site (head and neck, lung, breast, prostate, GI, CNS, gynecologic, lymphoma, sarcoma, pediatric) you must know the indications for radiotherapy, the standard dose/fractionation, and the sequencing with surgery and systemic therapy . Questions test whether you can place radiotherapy correctly in the multidisciplinary pathway: neoadjuvant vs adjuvant vs definitive vs palliative.
318 words, about 2 min02Radiation Biology
Core topics: the 4 R's (repair, reassortment, repopulation, reoxygenation), the linear-quadratic (LQ) model , α/β ratios , cell survival curves, and the biologic basis of fractionation . α/β ratio describes fractionation sensitivity.
267 words, about 1 min03Radiation Physics and Dosimetry
Photon interactions ( photoelectric, Compton, pair production ), inverse square law , attenuation , absorbed dose units, and dosimeter types . Also brachytherapy source physics (half-life, inverse square) and radioisotope properties .
236 words, about 1 min04Treatment Planning, Delivery Techniques, and Quality Assurance
Simulation, target delineation (GTV/CTV/PTV), margin concepts, plan evaluation (DVH, conformity, homogeneity), and delivery techniques (3D-CRT, IMRT/VMAT, SBRT/SRS, protons). Plus QA (machine QA, patient-specific QA, in vivo dosimetry, chart checks).
243 words, about 1 min05Brachytherapy and Radionuclide Therapy
Brachytherapy types (LDR, HDR, PDR), dose rate definitions, common applications (cervix, prostate, breast, skin, eye), and radionuclide therapy (I-131, Lu-177 DOTATATE, Ra-223, Y-90 microspheres). Dose rate: LDR <2 Gy/h, HDR 12 Gy/h.
223 words, about 1 min06Systemic Therapy Integration, Supportive Care, and Toxicity Management
Radiosensitizers (cisplatin, 5-FU, temozolomide), radioprotectors (amifostine), immunotherapy timing , and toxicity management (mucositis, xerostomia, pneumonitis, cystitis, proctitis, dermatitis, fatigue). Concurrent chemoradiation improves local control/OS in many sites but increases toxicity.
211 words, about 1 min07Palliative Radiation Oncology and Oncologic Emergencies
Palliative RT indications (bone pain, brain metastases, bleeding, obstruction, cord compression) and oncologic emergencies (malignant spinal cord compression, SVC syndrome, hypercalcemia, tumor lysis, febrile neutropenia, superior vena cava obstruction). Bone metastases: single 8 Gy vs multifraction (e.g., 30 Gy/10) - similar pain relief; single fraction convenient.
220 words, about 1 min08Patient Safety, Professionalism, Ethics, and Practice Management
Safety culture (error reporting, root-cause analysis, checklists), informed consent , shared decision-making , conflict of interest , billing/compliance , and professional conduct . Just culture: distinguish human error, at-risk behavior, reckless behavior.
189 words, under 1 min