ABR Core Exam case studies
ABR Core Exam · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Qualifying (Core) Exam is the American Board of Radiology's initial certification assessment for Diagnostic Radiology and Interventional Radiology/Diagnostic Radiology candidates, designed to assess skills and knowledge across the broad scope of both disciplines. Its content spans clinical practice domains across all imaging modalities, imaging physics, and noninterpretive skills. The ABR Core Exam case studies are 5 cases and about 2,062 words.
1Incidental Adrenal Nodule in a Patient with Prior Breast Cancer
A 58-year-old woman with a history of stage II breast cancer treated with mastectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy 4 years ago undergoes a staging CT of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis for new back pain. The scan shows no recurrent disease but reveals a 2.4 cm left adrenal nodule with a homogeneous appearance and unenhanced attenuation of 8 HU.
469 words, about 2 min2CT Pulmonary Angiography in a Patient with Renal Insufficiency and Suspected PE
A 71-year-old man with a creatinine of 2.1 mg/dL (eGFR approximately 28 mL/min/1.73 m²) presents with acute dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain. He is hemodynamically stable.
461 words, about 2 min3Screening Mammography Recall in a Woman with Dense Breasts
A 47-year-old woman with no family history of breast cancer presents for her first screening mammogram. The study shows heterogeneously dense breast tissue (BI-RADS category c) and a 7 mm asymmetry in the upper outer quadrant of the right breast that is seen on only one view.
379 words, about 2 min4Radiation Dose and Justification for Repeat Head CT in a Young Adult
A 24-year-old woman presents to the emergency department after a minor fall with a brief loss of consciousness. She has a Glasgow Coma Scale of 15, no vomiting, no focal deficit, and no anticoagulation.
383 words, about 2 min5Incidental Pulmonary Nodule Detected on Cardiac CT
A 63-year-old former smoker (30 pack-years, quit 12 years ago) undergoes a coronary calcium score CT. The study incidentally reveals a 9 mm solid pulmonary nodule in the right lower lobe.
370 words, about 2 min