ABR (NAR) case studies
ABR · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The American Board of Radiology (ABR) Diagnostic Radiology (DR) initial certification is the pathway by which a diagnostic radiologist becomes board certified in the United States. It is designed for physicians who have completed a year of clinical training and a four-year ACGME- or RCPSC-accredited DR residency (or the International Medical Graduate Alternate Pathway), and who hold a valid state or provincial license - a training license is acceptable while still in training. Certification requires passing the Qualifying (Core) Exam, taken after 36 months of residency, and then either the computer-based Certifying Exam (offered in 2026 and 2027 only) or the new case-based DR Oral Exam that replaces it after 2027. The Core Exam is a remotely administered, computer-based exam given over three days at roughly five and a half hours per day, covering breast, cardiovascular, CT, GI, GU, IR, MRI, musculoskeletal, neuroradiology, noninterpretive skills, nuclear radiology, pediatric radiology, physics, radiography/fluoroscopy, thoracic radiology, ultrasound, and radioisotope safety content. The ABR case studies are 5 cases and about 2,050 words.
1Palpable Breast Lump After a "Normal" Screening Mammogram
47-year-old woman presents because she felt a new lump in her right breast 3 weeks after an outside screening mammogram. The report describes heterogeneously dense tissue and assigns BI-RADS 1, with no prior comparison.
456 words, about 2 min2Chest Pain, Negative Troponins, and Renal Impairment
58-year-old man presents to the ED with 2 hours of substernal pressure and diaphoresis. He has type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and a 30-pack-year smoking history; there is no known coronary disease.
410 words, about 2 min3Thunderclap Headache With Negative Noncontrast CT
54-year-old woman presents with sudden severe occipital headache that peaked within seconds while lifting a box. She has nausea and photophobia.
396 words, about 2 min4Intermittent Abdominal Pain in a Toddler
20-month-old boy is brought after 14 hours of intermittent inconsolable crying with drawing up of the legs. He had three episodes of nonbilious vomiting and one bloody, mucoid stool.
388 words, about 2 min5Fertility-Sparing Option for Symptomatic Fibroids
38-year-old woman has heavy menstrual bleeding and pelvic pressure for 2 years. Hemoglobin is 9.4 g/dL despite oral iron.
400 words, about 2 min