Medical Physics General Content Guide
The below is all based on the ABR Part I content guide provided by the ABR
Each page contains abbreviated notes and explanations as an incomplete study guide/refresher.
Atomic / Nuclear Physics, Sources of Radiation, Interaction of Radiation with Matter
- Basic atomic and nuclear physics
- Radioactivity
- Sources of radioactive material
- Radioactive material uses and safety
- Radiation generating equipment: photons, electrons and heavy particles
- Interactions of photon and particle radiation with matter
- Dosimetry concepts and units
- Spatial distribution/transmission of radiation (photons, protons and electrons)
Radiation Instrumentation and Measurement
- Gas-filled detectors
- Scintillation detectors
- Solid state detectors
- Neutron detectors
- Emerging and miscellaneous detectors
- Measurement procedures
- Quality control and quality assurance
- Applications in imaging, nuclear medicine, therapy and safety
Diagnostic Medical Physics
- Radiography, Fluoroscopy and Mammography
- Computed Tomography
- Ultrasound
- Magnetic Resonance
- Modality comparison, image features and artifacts
- Endogenous and exogenous contrast
- Modality facility considerations, safety
- Methods of quality control and quality assurance
Nuclear Medical Physics
- Scintillation cameras
- Image acquisition and reconstruction
- Common radionuclides
- SNR, subject/image contrast
- Spatial resolution
- Mechanical aspects: accuracy, precision
- Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
- Modality comparison, image features and artifacts
- Image processing and analysis
- Applications, dose, facilities and safety
- Hybrid imaging (SPECT/CT, PET/CT, PET/MR)
- Methods of quality control and quality assurance
- Counting principles
- Physical, biological, and effective half-life
Therapeutic Medical Physics
- Clinical linear accelerator principles, collimation and mechanical aspects
- Clinical kV and MV photon beam characteristics
- Clinical megavoltage electron beam characteristics
- Clinical proton beam characteristics
- Comparison of clinical photon, electron and proton beams
- Dose functions: PDD, TAR, TPR, TMR, SMR
- Principles of radiation treatment planning
- Basic dose (monitor unit) calculation
- Brachytherapy
- Radiation safety and protection, patients and personnel
- Methods of quality control and quality assurance
Radiation Protection, Safety,Professionalism and Ethics
- Principles of radiation safety
- Radiation risk and epidemiological data
- Radiation protection regulations: NRC and Agreement States
- Radiation areas
- Regulatory exposure limits
- Radiation protection program
- Radioactive source management and security
- Transportation of radioactive materials
- Shielding design for diagnostic, nuclear medicine and therapeutic installations
- Signage for diagnostic, nuclear medicine and therapeutic installations
- Nonionizing radiation safety
- Mechanical and electrical safety
- Principles of quality assurance and quality control
- Management of radiation accidents and large-scale radiological events
- Professionalism and ethics
Mathematics – Statistics, Image Processing – Analysis, Informatics
- Mathematics relevant tmedical physics
- Statistics and biostatistics
- Medical image analysis and processing
- Observer performance and ROC analysis Informatics
Part 2: Clinical Content Guide
Anatomy
- Breast
- Cardiovascular
- Digestive System
- Musculoskeletal
- Neurological System
- Reproductive/Endocrine
- Thoracic Cavity
- Urinary System
- Lymphatic System
Radiation Biology
- Physics and chemistry of radiation interactions with matter
- Molecular and cellular radiobiology
- Tumor radiotherapy
- Normal tissue response tradiotherapy
- Time dose fractionation
- Radiobiological basis of radiation protection
- Radiation accidents and environmental radiation exposure
- Diagnosis and medical management of radiation syndromes
- Deterministic effects
- Stochastic Effects
- Radiation carcinogenesis
- Heritable radiation effects
- Effects on the developing embryo
Human Physiology
- Nervous system
- Musculoskeletal
- Cardiovascular system
- Respiratory system
- Digestive system
- Integumentary system
- Urinary system
- Reproductive system
- Immune system
- Endocrine system
General Medical / Radiology / Radiation Therapy Terminology
- Medical Root Words
- Diagnostic Radiology terminology
- Radiation Therapy terminology
Clinical Procedure Applications
- Diagnostic Radiology
- Radiation Therapy
Pathology
- Neoplastic Diseases
- Benign Disease
- Infectious Diseases
- Congenital and hereditary diseases
- Inflammatory
- Trauma
- Cardiovascular Diseases
- Neurological
Resources
- List of books/bibliography and other useful resources