RANZCR pathology examination
Updates to Article Attributes
The RANZCR pathology examination is part of the RANZCR Phase 2 written examinations. It aims to assess both core and advanced knowledge of pathology, and its application to current radiological practice.
The examination can be attempted as early as 12 months from the start of training if all the other Phase 1 training requirements have been met. Trainees have a maximum of three consecutive opportunities to complete the pathology examination. The
The passing standard is set by the relevant examination review panel using formal standard-setting procedures. As well as achieving the overall passing score is normally set at 60% however the passing standard for each case may vary from this percentagestandard, candidates must achieve minimum standards in a determined number of examination components in order to pass.
Learning outcomes
The examexamination aims to assess a thorough knowledge of general pathology, particularly in relation to the identification of disease and conditions using imaging. This includes recognition of the pathological consequences of disease, as well as morphological changes associated with therapies and occupational exposures.
Clinical conditions are organised into three categories:
common conditions or conditions in which the radiologist plays a vital role
forin diagnosisconditions
whichthat may have less urgency in diagnosisrare conditions that a radiologist must broadly know of, but in enough detail to include them in a differential diagnosis
Format
The examination is 3 hours in duration and consists of:
100 multiple choice questions: each with a stem and five possible answers, worth 1 mark per question
10 short answer questions: two general questions and one question per topic area (see below), worth 6 marks per question
100 multiple choice questions: each with a stem and five possible answers, worth 1 mark per(each question requires no more than 3-4 sentences)
All questions are text-based, i.e. no images are shown. There is also no negative marking.
Since August 2012 the examination has been delivered electronically. Currently it is delivered on the Practique system via online proctoring.
Content
TopicThere are nine topic areas covered in the examination with the following approximate weightings:
genetic syndromes / multi-system conditions (5%)
brain (15%)
head and neck (15%)
spine (5%)
cardiothoracic (15%)
abdominal and pelvis (20%)
musculoskeletal system (5%)
breast (5%)
obstetrics and gynaecology (15%)
Specific topics include:
-
cellular adaptations of growth and differentiation, including:
hyperplasia, hypertrophy, atrophy, and metaplasia
-
cell injury and cell death, including:
-
intracellular accumulations and their relevance in pathological conditions, including:
pathological calcification and associated morphological changes
regeneration, repair and scar formation, fibrosis, and healing in specialised tissues (e.g. fracture healing)
-
haemodynamic disorders, thromboembolic disease, and shock, including:
hyperaemia and congestion
haemorrhagic disorders (defects of primary and secondary haemostasis)
-
hypersensitivity reactions, autoimmune diseases, and immunodeficiency syndromes, including:
-
small vessel: granulomatosis with polyangiitis, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis
medium vessel: polyarteritis nodosa, Kawasaki disease
large vessel: giant cell arteritis, Takayasu arteritis
tissue transplant rejection
-
neoplasia, including:
tumour nomenclature, tumour classification, and staging systems
benign and malignant tumours
clinical aspects (including local effects, hormonal effects, and paraneoplastic syndromes)
The examination questions are rewritten every year and are drawn directly from the latest edition of Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease.
Prize
Each year, RANZCR awards the most successful candidate in the pathology examination the MGF Donnan Prize, named in honour of Dr Gordon Donnan, a radiologist who was instrumental in the formative years of the college. The recipient is awarded a cash prize equivalent to the cost of their exam fee and complimentary early bird registration to the RANZCR Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) that year 3.
NB: Details are correct at the time of writing. Please check with RANZCR for updated details.
-<p>The <strong>RANZCR pathology examination</strong> is part of the <a href="/articles/ranzcr-phase-2-written-examinations">RANZCR Phase 2 written examinations</a>. It aims to assess both core and advanced knowledge of pathology, and its application to current radiological practice.</p><p>The examination can be attempted as early as 12 months from the start of training if all the other Phase 1 training requirements have been met. Trainees have a maximum of three consecutive opportunities to complete the pathology examination. The overall passing score is normally set at 60% however the passing standard for each case may vary from this percentage.</p><h5>Learning outcomes</h5><p>The exam aims to assess a thorough knowledge of general pathology, particularly in relation to the identification of disease and conditions using imaging. This includes recognition of the pathological consequences of disease, as well as morphological changes associated with therapies and occupational exposures.</p><p>Clinical conditions are organised into three categories:</p><ol>-<li><p>common conditions or conditions in which the radiologist plays a vital role for diagnosis</p></li>-<li><p>conditions which may have less urgency in diagnosis</p></li>- +<p>The <strong>RANZCR pathology examination</strong> is part of the <a href="/articles/ranzcr-phase-2-written-examinations">RANZCR Phase 2 written examinations</a>. It aims to assess both core and advanced knowledge of pathology, and its application to current radiological practice.</p><p>The examination can be attempted as early as 12 months from the start of training if all the other Phase 1 training requirements have been met. Trainees have a maximum of three opportunities to complete the pathology examination. </p><p>The passing standard is set by the relevant examination review panel using formal standard-setting procedures. As well as achieving the overall passing standard, candidates must achieve minimum standards in a determined number of examination components in order to pass.</p><h5>Learning outcomes</h5><p>The examination aims to assess a thorough knowledge of general pathology, particularly in relation to the identification of disease and conditions using imaging. This includes recognition of the pathological consequences of disease, as well as morphological changes associated with therapies and occupational exposures.</p><p>Clinical conditions are organised into three categories:</p><ol>
- +<li><p>common conditions or conditions in which the radiologist plays a vital role in diagnosis</p></li>
- +<li><p>conditions that may have less urgency in diagnosis</p></li>
-<li><p>10 short answer questions: two general questions and one question per topic area (see below), worth 6 marks per question</p></li>-</ul><p>Since August 2012 the examination has been delivered electronically. Currently it is delivered on the Practique system via online proctoring.</p><h5>Content</h5><p>Topic areas include:</p><ul>- +<li><p>10 short answer questions: two general questions and one question per topic area (see below), worth 6 marks per question (each question requires no more than 3-4 sentences)</p></li>
- +</ul><p>All questions are text-based, i.e. no images are shown. There is also no negative marking.</p><p>Since August 2012 the examination has been delivered electronically. Currently it is delivered on the Practique system via online proctoring.</p><h5>Content</h5><p>There are nine topic areas covered in the examination with the following approximate weightings:</p><ul>
- +<li><p>genetic syndromes / multi-system conditions (5%)</p></li>
- +<li><p>brain (15%)</p></li>
- +<li><p>head and neck (15%)</p></li>
- +<li><p>spine (5%)</p></li>
- +<li><p>cardiothoracic (15%)</p></li>
- +<li><p>abdominal and pelvis (20%)</p></li>
- +<li><p>musculoskeletal system (5%)</p></li>
- +<li><p>breast (5%)</p></li>
- +<li><p>obstetrics and gynaecology (15%)</p></li>
- +</ul><p>Specific topics include:</p><ul>
-<li><p><a href="/articles/tobacco-abuse">tobacco</a>, <a href="/articles/recreational-drug-use-radiological-manifestations">alcohol, and drug use</a></p></li>- +<li><p><a href="/articles/tobacco-use-1">tobacco</a>, <a href="/articles/non-medical-drug-use-radiological-manifestations">alcohol, and drug use</a></p></li>
-</ul><h5>Prize</h5><p>Each year, RANZCR awards the most successful candidate in the pathology examination the <strong>MGF Donnan Prize</strong>, named in honour of <strong>Dr Gordon Donnan</strong>, a radiologist who was instrumental in the formative years of the college. The recipient is awarded a cash prize equivalent to the cost of their exam fee and complimentary early bird registration to the RANZCR Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) that year <sup>3</sup>.</p><p><strong>NB: Details are correct at the time of writing. Please check with RANZCR for updated details. </strong></p>- +</ul><p>The examination questions are rewritten every year and are drawn directly from the latest edition of Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease.</p><h5>Prize</h5><p>Each year, RANZCR awards the most successful candidate in the pathology examination the <strong>MGF Donnan Prize</strong>, named in honour of <strong>Dr Gordon Donnan</strong>, a radiologist who was instrumental in the formative years of the college. The recipient is awarded a cash prize equivalent to the cost of their exam fee and complimentary early bird registration to the RANZCR Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) that year <sup>3</sup>.</p><p><strong>NB: Details are correct at the time of writing. Please check with RANZCR for updated details. </strong></p>