ABR study plan
ABR · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Neuroradiology & Thoracic radiology
Complete a 60-question timed diagnostic across all 12 domains and rank every domain by personal baseline score
Label the suprasellar, pineal, cerebellopontine angle, and perimesencephalic cisterns and their contents on unlabeled axial and coronal images
Build a written decision table differentiating acute, early subacute, late subacute, and chronic hemorrhage by CT density and MRI T1/T2 signal
Construct a pattern-based differential for ring-enhancing brain lesions containing at least six entities keyed to location and patient age
Classify diffuse lung disease by craniocaudal and axial distribution into the six major HRCT patterns, then list three causes of each
Delineate the three mediastinal compartments and name the four most common masses in each
Your checkpoint
A one-page HRCT pattern table plus a hemorrhage signal-timing table, and a completed 60-question diagnostic scored and mapped by domain (target >=65%).
Gastrointestinal imaging & Genitourinary imaging
Trace the biliary and pancreatic ductal anatomy on provided MRCP and CT images and identify the five most common anatomic variants
Build a segmental liver lesion differential keyed to arterial enhancement pattern, washout, and delayed-phase behavior
Assign Bosniak categories to ten described cystic renal masses using written size, septation, and enhancement criteria
Order the differential for bowel wall thickening by distribution, enhancement pattern, and degree of dilation
Diagram the retroperitoneal and pelvic spaces (adrenal, perirenal, anterior pararenal, presacral) to support local staging
Your checkpoint
A 40-question self-written GI/GU quiz scored >=80%, plus a one-page Bosniak and liver-lesion enhancement reference card.
Musculoskeletal radiology & Ultrasound
Identify meniscal, cruciate, collateral, and rotator cuff structures on knee and shoulder MRI cases without reference material
Formulate a bone lesion differential using age, skeletal location, margin, and matrix, applied to twelve written case vignettes
Classify ten described thyroid nodules by TI-RADS composition, echogenicity, shape, margin, and echogenic foci into final categories
Apply written duplex criteria to detect and grade lower-extremity venous reflux and diagnose DVT
Differentiate ectopic pregnancy, abruption, and placenta previa on described transvaginal and transabdominal ultrasound findings
Your checkpoint
A 40-question MSK/ultrasound quiz scored >=80% plus a completed TI-RADS scoring worksheet for ten nodules with concordant categories.
Breast imaging & Nuclear radiology
Apply the ACR BI-RADS lexicon to describe and categorize twenty written mammographic, ultrasound, and MRI findings
Distinguish screening from diagnostic breast workup and state the management recommendation for each BI-RADS category
Match radiopharmaceuticals to their mechanisms and indicated studies (bone, thyroid, renal, hepatobiliary, V/Q, FDG PET)
Interpret ten described nuclear medicine studies by identifying the study, key findings, and most likely diagnosis
Explain false-positive and false-negative sources for V/Q scanning, FDG PET, and thyroid uptake imaging
Your checkpoint
A timed 50-question mixed-domain block scored >=75%, with every missed item logged and tagged to its parent domain.
Cardiovascular imaging & Interventional radiology
Identify standard cardiac CT and MRI imaging planes and the coronary artery territories they depict
Differentiate aortic dissection, intramural hematoma, penetrating ulcer, and ruptured aneurysm on described CT findings
Sequence the workup of acute and chronic limb ischemia and pulmonary embolism using CT angiography and catheter angiography
Compare embolic agents, sclerosing agents, and ablation modalities by indication, mechanism, and expected imaging appearance
List the major and minor periprocedural complications of TACE, Y-90 radioembolization, and percutaneous drainage and their management
Your checkpoint
A 40-question cardiovascular/IR quiz scored >=80% plus a one-page embolic-agent selection table keyed to five clinical scenarios.
Pediatric radiology & Noninterpretive skills
Distinguish normal pediatric chest and abdominal radiographic appearances and typical age-specific variants
Apply skeletal survey and fracture-dating principles to suspected nonaccidental trauma in written pediatric cases
Interpret study design, sensitivity, specificity, predictive value, and likelihood ratios from supplied two-by-two tables
Apply contrast safety, radiation dose reduction, and MRI safety screening rules to written clinical scenarios
Explain informed consent, error disclosure, peer review, and quality improvement processes as tested in noninterpretive skills items
Your checkpoint
A 40-question pediatric/noninterpretive quiz scored >=80% plus a one-page biostatistics formula sheet applied to three worked problems.
Neuroradiology & Gastrointestinal imaging & Musculoskeletal radiology
Re-quiz every domain scoring below 75% on the week 4 block until each reaches 80% or higher
Reconcile the error log and rewrite each missed concept as a single teach-back sentence
Practice rapid case recall by verbalizing findings and diagnosis for fifty mixed cross-sectional cases in under ninety seconds each
Identify the three domains with the slowest response times and assign a targeted drill for each
Your checkpoint
A rewritten, deduplicated error log in which every entry has a corrected concept statement, and a re-quiz score of >=80% in all previously weak domains.
Cardiovascular imaging & Genitourinary imaging & Nuclear radiology & Thoracic radiology
Simulate two full-length timed exams under test-day conditions and record per-domain timing
Review only the items missed on the simulations and close each knowledge gap with a written correction
Verify command of high-yield lists (radiopharmaceuticals, contrast agents, BI-RADS, Bosniak, TI-RADS) by unassisted recall
Finalize test-day logistics: scheduling, break strategy, and pacing targets per question block
Your checkpoint
Two completed full-length timed simulations with the second scoring at least 5 percentage points above the first and every missed item corrected in writing.
Milestones
Week 1: 60-question diagnostic completed and every domain ranked by baseline score, establishing the targeting order for weeks 7-8.
Week 3: At least six of twelve domains covered with a scored quiz on record; any domain below 70% flagged for week 7 re-quiz.
Week 4: First timed 50-question mixed block completed at >=75% with a working error log tagging each miss to its domain.
Week 6: All twelve domains covered at least once; all scored quizzes and the error log consolidated into a single review file.
Week 7: No remaining domain below 80% on re-quiz and error log fully rewritten with corrected concept statements.
Week 8: Two full-length timed simulations completed; second score at least 5 percentage points above the first and above the target pass threshold.