Practice Exam 1 Flashcards
1 Gray is equal to how many Sieverts?
A
0.01
B
0.10
C
1
D
10
C
1
The interaction that occurs when an incoming electron is slowed and changes direction near the nucleus is known as:
A
Bremsstrahlung
B
Compton
C
Pair Production
D
Coherent
A
Bremsstrahlung
- Bremsstrahlung interactions = projectile electron completely avoids all orbital electrons. The electron interacts with nuclear field of atom (because of its electric field) and the closer the electron gets = more likely to interact
Which of the following is NOT one of the 5 stages of grief defined by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross?
A
Denial
B
Anxiety
C
Bargaining
D
Acceptance
B
Anxiety
“DABDA” 5 stages of grief = denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance
Which interaction occurs between a photon and atomic nucleus?
A
Photoelectric Effect
B
Compton Scattering
C
Coherent Scattering
D
Pair Production
D
Pair Production
- Photon interactions can occur with orbiting shells or the nucleus. Pair production and photodisintegration occur with the atomic nucleus.
The star shot test on a linear accelerator checks the rotation of:
A
Collimator
B
Couch
C
Gantry
D
All the above
D
All the above
- The “star-shot” pattern is used to check the collimator, couch, and gantry rotation isocenters. It is checked using the EPIDs while rotation collimator, couch or gantry individually.
The measurement of ionizations in air is referred to as:
A
Absorbed dose
B
Exposure
C
Quality factor
D
Equivalent dose
B
Exposure
- Exposure (Roentgen): measures the total number of ionizations produced by photons and occur in a unit mass of air (C/kg).
What is the purpose of klystrons and Magnetrons?
A
Supply power
B
Bend and shape the beam
C
Spread out the beam
D
Provide a source of microwaves
D
Provide a source of microwaves
- Klystrons and magnetrons provide a source of microwaves. The klystron amplifies microwaves which are used to accelerate electrons (requires a microwave oscillator). Magnetrons can generate microwaves. Machines have either a klystron or a magnetron, but never both.
Prostate cancers are most likely to metastasize to the:
A
Brain
B
Bone
C
Liver
D
Lung
B
Bone
- Distant metastasis of the prostate is rare, but if it does occur it includes bones (more specifically the spine, which is the most common location). Other locations include liver and lungs
Flattening filters are used to:
A
Increase the beams penetrability
B
Filter out low energy x-rays
C
Spread out the photon beam
D
Decrease beam intensity along the central axis
D
Decrease beam intensity along the central axis
The intensity of a radiation beam is 150 cGy/min at a distance of 100 cm. What is the intensity of this beam at 105 cm?
A
136 cGy/min
B
143 cGy/min
C
157 cGy/min
D
165 cGy/min
A
136 cGy/min
Inverse square law: 150/x= (105/100)^2 x=136 cGy/min
The carina is the bifurcation of:
A
Trachea
B
superior vena cava
C
Aorta
D
Circle of Willis
A
Trachea
The carina is the division or bifurcation of the primary bronchi and is located at T4-T5.
A picket fence test is used to test:
A
Electron gun
B
MLCs
C
Klystron
D
Isocenter
B
MLCs
- Picket Fence Test = verifies MLC leaf position and is checked annually.
Machine output is most frequently measured by:
A
Pocket dosimeters
B
Thimble Chambers
C
OSLs
D
Ion chambers
D
Ion chambers
- Ion chambers monitor beam output, beam symmetry and flatness for each treatment beam/field delivered and for every patient, which makes it the most frequent method of measurement.
A ring badge worn by a physicist handling radioactive sources is a type of:
A
TLD
B
OSL
C
Diode
D
Pocket dosimeter
A
TLD
- TLD (thermoluminescent dosimeters) give an “in vivo” dose verification for personnel monitoring. Ring badges are specifically used by those who handle radioactive sources.
Pancreatic tumors most commonly arise in the:
A
Head
B
Body
C
Tail
D
Fundus
A
Head
- The head of the pancreas is the widest portion and sits to the right side of the abdomen within the duodenal loop and this is where most cancers of the pancreas arise.
The change in beam’s intensity as the distance changes is a definition of:
A
Half-Value Layer
B
Inverse Square Law
C
Beam Quality
D
Exponential Attenuation
B
Inverse Square Law
- Radiation beam intensity will decrease as distance increases due to beam divergence. This is known as the inverse square law. At increased distances, the radiation beam will be spread over a greater area and the intensity will be decreased.
What is the maximum dose permitted to the lens of the eye to someone who does NOT work in radiation oncology or radiology?
A
0.15 rem
B
1.5 rem
C
5 rem
D
15 rem
B
1.5 rem
- The recommended dose limit for the lens of the eye for the public exposure is <15 mSv or 1.5 rem.
King Henry Died By Drinking Chocolate Milk
What is the maximum annual dose permitted to the hands of a physicist who handles radioactive materials?
A
5 mSv
B
50 mSv
C
500 mSv
D
5000 mSv
C
500 mSv
- The recommended dose limit for a radiation worker’s skin, hands, and feet is 500 mSv or 50 rem.
The proper order of each subdivision of the pharynx from superior to inferior is:
A
Nasopharynx, hypopharynx, laryngopharynx
B
Hypopharynx, Nasopharynx, Oropharynx
C
Oropharynx, Laryngopharynx, Nasopharynx
D
Nasopharynx, Oropharynx, Hypopharynx
D
Nasopharynx, Oropharynx, Hypopharynx
- The pharynx consists of (from superior to inferior for anatomical purposes) nasopharynx, oropharynx and laryngopharynx/Hypopharynx.
The gantry angle indicator on the linac tolerance is within _____ degrees.
A
1
B
2
C
3
D
5
A
1
Which of the following is NOT a common site for lung cancer metastasis?
A
Brain
B
Pancreas
C
Adrenal Glands
D
Bone
B
Pancreas
- Distant spread of the lungs can occur to the liver, brain, bones, bone marrow, adrenal glands, and/or kidneys.
The component of the linear accelerator that is used to create a homogenous spread out beam for electron therapy is?
A
Bending magnet
B
Scattering foil
C
Hooded anode
D
flattening filter
B
Scattering foil
- When electrons are used for treatment, the target and flattening filter are moved out of the beam’s path and instead a scattering foil is used to spread out the electron beam.
All of the following are located within the oral cavity EXCEPT?
A
Base of tongue
B
Gingiva
C
Alveolar ridge
D
Retromolar trigone
A
Base of tongue
- The oral cavity anatomy includes the lips, buccal mucosa, teeth, gums, alveolar ridge, anterior or front 2/3 of the tongue, floor of mouth below the tongue, hard palate, and the retromolar trigone. The base of the tongue is located in the oropharynx
Epinephrine is produced by what organ?
A
Brain
B
Kidney
C
Heart
D
Adrenal glands
D
Adrenal glands
- The inner part of the adrenal gland is called the medulla creates norepinephrine and epinephrine
The ethical principle that follows the principle to do no harm is:
A
Beneficience
B
Autonomy
C
Malpractice
D
Patient’s Bill of Rights
A
Beneficience
- Beneficience: act of charity, good, or kindness. Doing good to others and doing no harm. This is a moral principle of all healthcare workers.
The Mayneord’s F factor is a correction for which of the following:
A
Depth
B
Field size
C
Beam energy
D
Distance
D
Distance
The Mayneord F Factor makes up for the change in dose at different depths of the central axis due to the inverse square law.
The spinal cord ends at the level of:
A
T12
B
L2
C
L5
D
S1
B
L2
The point which the gantry, collimator, and couch rotate around is called:
A
Midplane
B
Central Axis
C
Isocenter
D
ITV
C
Isocenter
- The isocenter is the calibration point of the gantry, collimator, and couch.
The most common location for distant metastasis of sarcomas is to:
A
Lung
B
Bone
C
Liver
D
Brain
A
Lung
- The lungs are the most common site of distant metastasis of sarcomas, followed by the bone, lymph nodes, liver, brain, and subcutaneous tissue.
The most aggressive of these skin cancers is:
A
Kaposi sarcoma
B
Melanoma
C
Basal Cell
D
Squamous Cell
B
Melanoma
- Melanoma is often called the most serious skin cancer because it has a high chance of spreading.
To find the therapeutic range of electrons, divide the energy by:
A
2.0
B
3.0
C
4.0
D
5.0
C
4.0
- The therapeutic range of electrons is the 90% isodose line. A common formula used is E/4 to find the range.
PDD has a direct relationship with:
1. Energy
2. Depth
3. Field Size
4. SSD
A
1 & 2
B
1, 2 & 4
C
1, 3 & 4
D
1, 2, 3, & 4
C
1, 3 & 4
- PDD has a direct relationship with energy, SSD, and field size. PDD has an indirect relationship with depth.
What is the therapeutic ratio if the lethal tumor dose is 5500cGy and the normal tissue tolerance is 6500 cGy?
A
0.72
B
0.85
C
1.18
D
1.40
C
1.18
- Therapeutic ratio = normal tissue tolerance/lethal tumor dose = 6500/5500 = 1.18
Pancoast tumors are typically found in the:
A
Lining of the lung
B
Apex of the lung
C
Brain
D
CSF
B
Apex of the lung
The most radioresistant cell cycle is the _____ phase
A
G1
B
G2
C
M
D
S
D
S
- The radioresistant cell cycle is the S phase.
S phase is chemosensetive