Free ARRT Vascular Interventional Radiography examination Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the ARRT Vascular Interventional Radiography examination practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1Before iodinated contrast is prepared for an angiogram, a technologist reviews the patient's history. Which history is the strongest predictor of a future allergic-like reaction to that same class of contrast medium?

   1. A. A prior allergic-like reaction to iodinated contrast medium
   2. B. A history of asthma without a prior contrast reaction
   3. C. An allergy to shellfish without a prior contrast reaction
   4. D. Current beta-blocker use without a prior contrast reaction

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The ACR states, "A prior allergic-like or unknown type reaction to the same class of contrast medium is considered the greatest risk factor for predicting future adverse events." The same-class reaction therefore takes priority in this patient's screening history.

   Reference: ACR Manual on Contrast Media — Patient Selection and Preparation Strategies, Risk Factors for Adverse Reactions, printed p. 5

2. 2Before an angiographic run, an unnecessarily wide x-ray field includes tissue outside the vessel of interest. Which control directly limits the irradiated area?

   1. A. Close the beam collimator shutters around the vessel
   2. B. Choose a smaller display window on the monitor
   3. C. Increase the distance from the detector to the patient
   4. D. Insert a compensating filter over the thick tissue

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The IAEA says the exposed patient area "should be strictly limited to that of clinical interest" and notes that cropping after exposure does not reduce it. Closing the physical beam shutters before acquisition reduces the irradiated field; display window, geometry and filtration have different roles.

   Reference: Radiation Protection and Safety in Medical Uses of Ionizing Radiation — para. 3.159, printed p. 95

3. 3A patient has a high clinical suspicion of pulmonary embolism, but CT pulmonary angiography is nondiagnostic. The physician plans a catheter study of the suspected pulmonary vascular lesion. Which study should the technologist prepare to image?

   1. A. Pulmonary arteriography
   2. B. Bronchial arteriography
   3. C. Thoracic aortography
   4. D. Hepatic arteriography

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The ACR–SIR–SPR arteriography parameter lists "Suspected acute pulmonary embolus, in particular when other diagnostic tests are inconclusive or discordant with clinical findings" under pulmonary arteriography. The nondiagnostic CT and persistent suspicion fit that indication.

   Reference: ACR–SIR–SPR Practice Parameter for the Performance of Arteriography — printed p. 2

4. 4A patient scheduled for routine intravascular contrast administration asks how long to fast solely because of the contrast injection. No sedation is planned. What fasting interval does the ACR manual require for that reason?

   1. A. No fasting interval is required
   2. B. A two-hour fasting interval is required
   3. C. A six-hour fasting interval is required
   4. D. An eight-hour fasting interval is required

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The manual states, "fasting is not required prior to routine intravascular contrast material administration." This patient has no sedation-related fasting issue in the stem.

   Reference: ACR Manual on Contrast Media — Fasting Prior to Intravascular Contrast Media Administration, printed p. 13

5. 5A device can be seen in standard fluoroscopy except during a brief difficult crossing. Which fluoroscopy mode does IAEA guidance reserve for the minimum indispensable time?

   1. A. High dose-rate fluoroscopy mode
   2. B. Standard pulsed fluoroscopy mode
   3. C. Low dose-rate fluoroscopy mode
   4. D. Last-image-hold display mode

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The IAEA states, "High rate dose modes in fluoroscopy should be used only during the minimum indispensable time necessary to the procedure." The brief difficult crossing, not routine viewing, justifies that mode.

   Reference: Radiation Protection and Safety in Medical Uses of Ionizing Radiation — para. 3.192, printed p. 101

6. 6Prior cross-sectional imaging is unavailable before selective cervicocerebral catheter angiography, and the operator needs to identify the course of the extracranial cervical vessel origins. Which preliminary injection can provide that overview?

   1. A. An aortic arch injection
   2. B. A selective carotid injection
   3. C. A pulmonary trunk injection
   4. D. A thoracic venous injection

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The ACR practice parameter states, "Aortic arch injections may be considered in certain circumstances to identify the course of extracranial cervical vessels before selective catheterization," particularly without prior cross-sectional imaging.

   Reference: ACR–ASNR–SIR–SNIS Practice Parameter for the Performance of Diagnostic Cervicocerebral Catheter Angiography in Adults — sec. I, Introduction, printed p. 2

7. 7During preprocedure verification for a planned image-guided intervention, the consent form names the left leg while the order names the right leg. What should the technologist do before the procedure begins?

   1. A. Resolve the discrepancy with the procedure team before starting
   2. B. Proceed using the site recorded on the signed consent form
   3. C. Proceed using the site recorded on the current procedure order
   4. D. Defer the discrepancy until the intraprocedure time-out

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The Universal Protocol directs staff to "Address missing information or discrepancies before starting the procedure." The conflicting sites must therefore be resolved before the intervention starts.

   Reference: The Universal Protocol for Preventing Wrong Site, Wrong Procedure, and Wrong Person Surgery — Conduct a pre-procedure verification process, p. 1

8. 8A tiny arterial target requires enlargement during a brief device-placement step. Which field-of-view setting does IAEA guidance say should be kept to the minimum duration needed for success?

   1. A. Magnified small field of view
   2. B. Standard medium field of view
   3. C. Wide field of view
   4. D. Full detector field of view

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The IAEA says, "The use of magnification modes should be kept to a minimum consistent with a successful intervention." The magnified small field supplies enlargement for this step; the other field settings are less magnified and are not the named mode.

   Reference: Radiation Protection and Safety in Medical Uses of Ionizing Radiation — para. 3.192, printed p. 101

9. 9In diagnostic cervicocerebral catheter angiography, which finding justifies departing from the usual selective-catheter study because selective access cannot be performed safely?

   1. A. Extreme tortuosity preventing safe vessel selection
   2. B. Metal artifact on the preceding CT angiogram
   3. C. A need to display intracranial collateral pathways
   4. D. No prior cross-sectional image of the aortic arch

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The ACR parameter says, "A selective study should be performed unless extreme tortuosity or severe stenotic-occlusive disease prohibits safe selective catheterization." The other circumstances can motivate angiography or preliminary arch imaging but do not themselves prohibit selective catheter placement.

   Reference: ACR–ASNR–SIR–SNIS Practice Parameter for the Performance of Diagnostic Cervicocerebral Catheter Angiography in Adults — sec. I, Introduction, printed p. 2

10. 10The procedure team is about to start a percutaneous vascular intervention. At what point should the technologist participate in the team's time-out?

    1. A. Immediately before starting the invasive procedure
    2. B. When the patient first arrives in the procedure unit
    3. C. After the first angiographic image is acquired
    4. D. When the procedure is complete and documented

    Answer: A

    Explanation: The Universal Protocol says, "Conduct a time-out immediately before starting the invasive procedure or making the incision." Arrival, imaging, and completion are different points in the workflow.

    Reference: The Universal Protocol for Preventing Wrong Site, Wrong Procedure, and Wrong Person Surgery — Perform a time-out, p. 2