AMERICAN BOARD OF MEDICAL PHYSICS, INC.

STUDY GUIDE 2006-2007

"Part I - Magnetic Resonance Science"

Contents

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Announcement

The American Board of Medical Physics offers Certification in Magnetic Resonance Imaging by examination, which began in 1998. Applicants are required to pass either the ABMP’s Part I examination in General Medical Physics (which can also be applied toward partial completion of certification in Medical Health Physics) or the Part I examination in MRI Science, described below.  Alternatively, those who wish to waive the requirement to take the Part I examination, should submit written documentation indicating that they have already passed the Part I examination in Medical Physics administered by the American Board of Radiology or its equivalent. 

The Part I examination is a written exam and consists of matching (Type B), multiple choice (Type A), and multiple true-false questions (Type K).  Examples of these types of test items are given below.  The examination  is designed to determine the competence of the candidate in fundamental aspects of various areas of science that are directly related to use of magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy as a clinical diagnostic modality, adjunct to medical therapeutic regimens and scientific research tool for studies on human beings.

Upon successfully passing the prerequisite examination (Part I) in MRI Science and both the written (Part II) and oral (Part III) examinations in Magnetic Resonance Imaging Physics, the candidate may be identified as a Certified Medical Physicist or more specifically, as a Diplomate of the American Board of Medical Physics with a Special Competence in Magnetic Resonance Imaging Physics.

 

The Examination Panel

Terry M. Button, Ph.D., Chair

Peter S. Allen, Ph.D., Co-Chair

 

Jerry D. Allison, Ph.D.

Stewart Bushong, D.Sc.

Terry M. Button, Ph.D.

Michael Dennis, Ph.D.

Dick J. Drost, Ph.D.

Jeffrey L. Duerk, Ph.D.

Joel P. Felmlee, Ph.D.

Carl R. Keener, Ph.D.

John D. Hazle, Ph.D.

Edward F. Jackson, Ph.D.

Pottumarthi Prasad, Ph.D.

Ronald R. Price, Ph.D.

Michael Smith, Ph.D.

Wlad Sobol, Ph.D.

Perry Sprawls, Ph.D.

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Examination Content Outline

 

SUBJECT

WEIGHT

Atomic & Nuclear Physics

15%

Chemistry & Biochemistry

15%

Anatomy & Physiology

15%

Medical Biophysics

10%

Imaging Science and Image Processing

15%

Medical & Radiological Practice

10%

Clinical Statistics & Random Error Analysis

10%

 

 

Further Information

Application deadline for Part I 2007 examination is March 15, 2007.

For further information or to receive an application form contact:

American Board of Medical Physics, Inc.

P.O. Box 79649
Houston, Texas 77279-9649
Phone: (281) 493-6955
Fax: (713) 798-5556
Email: abmpexdir@houston.rr.com

ATOMIC AND NUCLEAR PHYSICS

 

The Electromagnetic Spectrum:

  • The major divisional components of the spectrum and their frequency, wavelength and energy relationships.

 

The Electronic Structure of Atoms:

  • Electronic energy states
  • electron spin and magnetic moment
  • periodic table
  • the source of magnetism in transition elements

 

Nuclear Structure:

  • nucleon and elementary particle composition of nuclei
  • Nuclear spin angular momentum and magnetic moment
  • Modes of radioactive decay and their mathematical descriptions

 

Interactions of Radiation with Matter:  

  • Interaction of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation with matter (tissue) and with emphasis on low energy photon dissipation and subsequent hazard.

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CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY

 

Molecular Bonding:

  • Covalent bonding
  • van der Waals interactions
  • Hydrogen bonding

 

Molecular Architecture:

  • Role of the atomic valence state in governing the 3D molecular structure and its electrical properties

 

Biologically Important Molecules:

  • Amino acids giving rise to proteins
  • Glucose giving rise to carbohydrates
  • Fatty acids giving rise to lipids

 

Energy Metabolism:

  • Concepts of pH and free energy
  • Roles of ATP, ADP and phosphocreatine
  • Krebs cycle (citric acid cycle)

 

Brain Biochemistry:

  • Aerobic glycolosis
  • Anaerobic glycolosis
  • Fatty acid oxidation

 

Biochemistry of Exogenous Compounds: 

  • Neuron-astrocite amino acid neurotransmitter cycle
  • Phosphoinositide system
  • Fluorinated anti-cancer drugs, anesthetics,etc.
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose metabolism.

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ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

Central Nervous System:

  • The major structural components of the brain
  • Their function plus spinal cord anatomy
  • Peripheral distribution of spinal nerves.

 

Cardiovascular System:

  • Anatomy of the heart and its functional components
  • The vascular system and the circulation and function of blood
  • Renal, urinary tract and reproductive system anatomy, plus renal function.

 

Musculoskeletal System:

  • Anatomy of the vertebral column, limbs and knee joint
  • Articulation of the knee and organization of muscle fibres and their contraction

 

Genitourinary System:

  • Examples of typical anatomical and physiological features readily seen in MR images

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MEDICAL BIOPHYSICS

Mechanics of Bulk Fluids:

  • Physical characteristics of non-viscous fluids Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids.
  • Physical characteristics of Newtonian fluids.
  • Physical characteristics of non-Newtonian fluids
  • Laminar, pulsatile flow and tissue blood flow

 

Micro-movement of Fluids:  

  • Diffusion
  • Perfusion.

 

Membrane Transport:

  • Sodium and potassium pumps
  • Glucose transporter

 

Bioelectricity & Biomagnetism: 

  • Electrical properties of nerve.
  • Principles of the electrocardiogram.

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IMAGING SCIENCE AND IMAGE PROCESSING

Imaging Modalities:

·         X-ray imaging:

o        sources of contrast

o        image receptors

·         Dynamic imaging (fluoroscopy)

·         Computed tomography

o        Concept of back-projection reconstruction

·         Nuclear medicine imaging:

o        Radiation detectors

o        Image formation (planar, SPECT & PET)

o        Common radiopharmaceuticals and their applications

 

Image Quality:

  • Spatial resolution
    • point and line spread functions
    • modulation transfer function.
  • Image Noise
    • Signal to noise ratio
    • Rose criterion.
  • Image Contrast
    • Subject contrast
    • Instrument contrast
    • Contrast-to-noise ratio.

 

Image Processing:

  • Sampling and aliasing:
    • Nyquist criterion
  • Reconstruction:
    • back-projection reconstruction
    • Fourier sampling reconstruction
  • Filtering:
    • Convolution and deconvolution
    • digital low pass (Hanning, Hamming & Butterworth)
    • Image enhancements (smoothing, edge sharpening)
  • Modality Comparisons: Image quality and diagnostic strengths of radiography (film, CR & DR) MRI, CT, SPECT & PET.

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MEDICAL AND RADIOLOGICAL PRACTICE

  • Basic Medical Imaging Terminology:  Terminology encountered in the daily functions of a fully equipped, practicing diagnostic imaging facility.
  • Imaging Contrast Agents:  Their purpose, efficacy and safety and cost.
  • The Scope of MRI in a Radiology Department:  The contribution which MRI makes in a typical diagnostic imaging facility to the diagnosis of cancer (e.g. breast cancer), of diseases of the CNS, (e.g., white matter disease, stroke, and spinal disorders), of cardiovascular disease (e.g., great vessel integrity), in addition to the therapeutic contributions in stereotactic and radio surgery.

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CLINICAL STATICTICS AND RANDOM ERROR ANALYSIS

  • Location and Dispersion Indices: 
    • Mean
    • Median
    • Mode
    • Variance
    • Standard deviation
    • Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM)
  • Statistical Distributions: 
    • Binomial distribution
    • Poisson distribution
    • Gaussian distribution
    • Rayleigh distribution
  • Tests of Hypotheses: 
    • Student's t-test
    • Chi-squared test
  • Fitting Routines:
    • Least squares analysis (linear, logarithmic)
    • Lagrangian interpolation.
  • Measurements of Clinical Accuracy & Agreement
    • Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy
    • Positive and negative predictive values
    • Bayesian analysis
    • Bland -Altman analysis

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EXAMPLES OF TEST ITEMS

Type A (one question per item):

Which type of detector is typically used for modern x-ray computed tomography imaging?

  1. Radio frequency coil
  2. Piezoelectric crystal
  3. Ceramic scintillator
  4. Cesium iodide crystal
  5. Geiger counter

 

Type B (for questions 1-4):

Match the enzyme with the biochemical process:

  1. phosphogluomutase
  2. glucose 6-phosphotase
  3. pyruvate kinase
  4. phosphoglycerate kinase
  5. creatine kinase

1. phosphorylation of ADP to create ATP plus pyruvate

2. phosphorylation of glucose

3. dephosphorylation of glucose 6-phosphate

4. transfer of a phosphate group to ATP from phosphocreatine

 

Type K  (one question per item):

Which arteries are found in the Circle of Willis?

(1) opthamalic artery

(2) middle cerebral artery

(3) basilar artery

(4) posterior communicating artery       

            A.        (1),(2) and (3) only are correct

            B.         (1) and (3) only are correct

            C.        (2) and (4) only are correct

            D.        (4) only is correct

            E.        All are correct

 

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SUGGESTED READING

Physics of the Body.  JR Cameron, JG Skofronick, RM Grant. Medical Physics Publishing, Madison, WI, 1999. ISBN: 0-944838-90-1

 

Intermediate Physics for Medicine and Biology , RK Hobbie. Springer-Verlag, New York, 1997. ISBN: 1-56396-458-9

 

The Essential Physics of Medical Imaging, 2nd edition , JT Bushberg, JA Seibert, EM Leidholdt, JM Boone. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, PA, 2002. ISBN: 0-683-30118-7

 

Image Reconstruction in Radiology , JA Parker. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 1991. ISBN: 0-8493-0150-5.

 

Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry, 4th Edition DL Nelson, MM Cox. WH Freeman, New York, 2004. ISBN: 0716759551

 

Clinically Oriented Anatomy, 5th edition. KL Moore & AF Dalley.  Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 5th edition, 2005. ISBN: 0781736390

 

Physics for Diagnostic Radiology , Dendy PP, Heaton B. Taylor & Francis; 2nd edition, 1999, ISBN: 0750305916

 

Biophysics, R Glaser. Springer; 2004, ISBN: 3540670882

 

Textbook of  Medical Physiology, AC Guyton, JE Hall. Saunders/Elsevier; 11th ed, 2005, ISBN: 0721602401

 

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