ExamFinch.com My Study

Cheat sheet

ARRT MRI Cheat Sheet

Practice this exam

Patient Care

  • Not published of exam
  • Patient Care Blueprint Patient Interaction + Care Contrast + Emergencies Safety Decision Picker

Safety

  • Not published of exam
  • Safety Blueprint Screening + Labels Fields + Environment Safety Decision Picker MR Safe vs Conditional

Image Production

  • Not published of exam
  • Image Blueprint MR Physics Parameter Tradeoffs Sequences + Suppression Artifacts + Fixes Data + QC

Procedures

  • Not published of exam
  • Procedures Blueprint Procedure Planning Anatomic Coverage Protocol Decision Picker

Quick Facts

  • Exam ARRT MRI
  • Pathways Primary + postprimary
  • Scored 200 items
  • Pilot 30 unscored items
  • Total 230 items
  • Test Time 230 minutes
  • Appointment 250 minutes
  • Pass Scaled score 75
  • Score Scale 1–99
  • Effective February 1, 2025
  • Delivery Pearson computer-based
  • Pilot Display Random and indistinguishable
  • Official Weights Question counts

Scored vs Pilot PA

Scored

  • 200 items
  • Counts toward result
  • Blueprint allocated

Pilot

  • 30 items
  • Does not count
  • Indistinguishable onscreen
  • Answer every item seriously

Patient Care Blueprint PA

  • Scored allocation 16 of 200 8% derived
  • Only subcategory Patient Interactions and Management
  • Subcategory allocation 16 scored questions
  • 2025 additions Time-out; critical-findings communication

Patient Interaction + Care PA

  • Patient verification Two identifiers + matching order
  • Informed consent Explain procedure, risks, benefits
  • Confidentiality Protect patient information
  • Communication barrier Adapt mode and language
  • Patient education Purpose, length, pre/post instructions
  • Physical assistance Transfer safely; protect lines
  • Routine monitoring Vitals, symptoms, comfort, privacy
  • Sedation Monitor per approved protocol
  • Time-out Verify patient and procedure

Contrast + Emergencies PA

  • Renal screening Review BUN, creatinine, eGFR
  • Contrast selection Condition, age, weight, labs
  • Gadolinium types Linear versus macrocyclic
  • Dose calculation Use weight and concentration
  • Power injector Confirm route and timing
  • Extravasation Stop; assess; document
  • Contrast reaction Classify severity; follow protocol
  • Cardiorespiratory arrest Remove safely; begin response
  • Critical findings Notify health care team
  • Infection control Standard and transmission precautions

Field Hazards SA

  • B0 pulls | RF heats | Gradients stimulate
  • B0: projectile + torque RF: SAR + burns Gradients: PNS + noise

MR Safe vs Conditional SA

MR Safe

  • No known hazards
  • All MR environments
  • No conditions required

MR Conditional

  • Defined conditions only
  • Verify device details
  • Match every condition
  • Universal vs conditional safety

Safety Decision Picker SA

  • Unknown implanted device → Stop and identify ( Never assume )
  • MR Conditional label → Match every condition ( Field, coil, SAR )
  • Ferrous object suspected → Screen and localize ( Before Zone IV )
  • Conductive loop risk → Separate and pad ( Prevent RF burn )
  • Patient reports heating → Stop scan immediately ( Assess contact points )
  • Contrast risk concern → Review history and labs ( Follow facility policy )
  • Emergency inside Zone IV → Remove patient safely ( Use designated response area )
  • Cryogen release suspected → Evacuate magnet room ( Follow emergency plan )
  • Unscreened person approaches → Restrict access ( Screen before entry )

Safety Blueprint SA

  • Scored allocation 21 of 200 10.5% derived
  • Only subcategory MRI Screening and Safety
  • Subcategory allocation 21 scored questions
  • Primary hazards Static, RF, gradient fields

RF vs Gradient SA

RF

  • Tissue heating
  • SAR
  • Burn risk

Gradient

  • Peripheral nerve stimulation
  • Acoustic noise
  • Magnetophosphenes
  • Heat vs stimulation

Screening + Labels SA

  • Device identity Document year, make, model
  • MR Safe No known MR hazards
  • MR Conditional Safe under listed conditions
  • MR Unsafe Unacceptable MR risk
  • Foreign body Screen and localize first
  • Medical conditions Include pregnancy screening
  • Applied items Patches, tattoos, jewelry, monitors
  • MR personnel Know Level 1 versus 2

Fields + Environment SA

  • Static field Projectile force and torque
  • Spatial gradient Force changes by location
  • RF field Heating and burn risk
  • SAR RF energy deposition
  • Conductive loops Separate skin, cables, coils
  • Gradient field PNS and acoustic noise
  • Safety zones Control progressively restricted access
  • Gauss lines Map static-field boundaries
  • Quench Rapid cryogen boil-off
  • Emergency planning Fire, quench, evacuation procedures

Weighting Pairs IM

  • T1: short-short | T2: long-long | PD: long-short
  • T1: short TR + short TE T2: long TR + long TE PD: long TR + short TE

T1 vs T2 IM

T1

  • Short TR
  • Short TE
  • Fat relatively bright

T2

  • Long TR
  • Long TE
  • Fluid relatively bright
  • Short-short vs long-long

Image Quality Picker IM

  • Need more SNR → Increase NEX ( Time increases )
  • Need finer resolution → Increase matrix ( SNR decreases )
  • Need shorter scan → Reduce NEX ( SNR decreases )
  • Wraparound appears → Increase phase FOV ( Or oversample )
  • Chemical shift appears → Increase receive bandwidth ( SNR decreases )
  • Motion ghosts appear → Immobilize or gate ( Address source )
  • Susceptibility dominates → Prefer spin echo ( Shorten TE )
  • Need fat suppression → Choose STIR or spectral ( Match contrast needs )
  • Need CSF suppression → Choose FLAIR ( Long TI )
  • Need flow velocity → Choose phase contrast ( Set VENC )

Image Blueprint IM

  • Image Production 106 of 200 53% derived
  • Physical Principles 40 of 200 20% derived
  • Parameters + Options 36 of 200 18% derived
  • Acquisition + Processing 30 of 200 15% derived
  • Largest domain More than half scored

K-Space Map IM

  • Center = contrast | Periphery = detail
  • Center: gross signal Periphery: fine edges

T2 vs T2* IM

T2

  • Spin-spin decay
  • Refocused by 180°
  • Less inhomogeneity influence

T2*

  • Includes field inhomogeneity
  • GRE sensitive
  • Faster signal loss
  • True decay vs added dephasing

MR Physics IM

  • Larmor frequency Proportional to field strength
  • Precession Spins rotate around B0
  • Resonance RF matches Larmor frequency
  • FID Signal after RF excitation
  • T1 recovery Longitudinal magnetization returns
  • T2 decay Transverse coherence decreases
  • T2* decay T2 plus field inhomogeneity
  • Proton density Hydrogen concentration
  • Gradients Enable spatial localization
  • K-space Raw spatial-frequency data

Artifact Shortcuts IM

  • Wrap FOV | Shift bandwidth | Gibbs matrix
  • Wrap: phase FOV Shift: bandwidth Gibbs: matrix

STIR vs FLAIR IM

STIR

  • Suppresses fat
  • Short TI
  • Broad fat nulling

FLAIR

  • Suppresses CSF
  • Long TI
  • Neurological emphasis
  • Fat null vs CSF null

Parameter Tradeoffs IM

  • TR ↓ Time↓; T1 weighting↑
  • TE ↑ T2 weighting↑; SNR↓
  • TI Nulls selected tissue
  • NEX ↑ SNR↑; time↑
  • FOV ↓ Resolution↑; wrap risk↑
  • Matrix ↑ Resolution↑; SNR↓
  • Slice thickness ↓ Z-resolution↑; SNR↓
  • Bandwidth ↑ Chemical shift↓; SNR↓
  • ETL ↑ Time↓; blurring↑
  • Flip angle Changes contrast and SAR

TOF vs Phase Contrast IM

TOF

  • Inflow enhancement
  • No VENC
  • Vessel morphology

Phase Contrast

  • Velocity encoding
  • Requires VENC
  • Quantifies flow
  • Inflow vs velocity

Sequences + Suppression IM

  • Spin echo Robust refocusing
  • Fast spin echo Multiple echoes per TR
  • Gradient echo Fast; susceptibility sensitive
  • Inversion recovery TI selects tissue null
  • STIR Fat suppression by TI
  • FLAIR CSF suppression by TI
  • DWI Diffusion-sensitive signal
  • ADC Maps apparent diffusion magnitude
  • SWI Susceptibility-sensitive imaging
  • EPI Very fast; distortion prone
  • TOF MRA Inflow-based angiography
  • Phase contrast Velocity-encoded flow

SNR vs Resolution IM

Higher SNR

  • Larger voxels
  • More NEX
  • Longer scans possible

Higher Resolution

  • Smaller voxels
  • Larger matrix
  • Lower SNR likely
  • Signal usually trades for detail

Artifacts + Fixes IM

  • Aliasing Increase phase FOV; oversample
  • Gibbs Increase matrix or resolution
  • Chemical shift Increase bandwidth; suppress fat
  • Susceptibility Use SE; shorten TE
  • Zipper Find RF leakage
  • Motion ghosting Immobilize, gate, or trigger
  • Flow ghosting Saturate or gate
  • Partial volume Use thinner slices
  • Cross-talk Add gap or interleave
  • Dielectric shading Reposition; use dielectric pads

Data + QC IM

  • Nyquist Sample twice highest frequency
  • FFT K-space to image
  • K-space center Contrast and gross signal
  • K-space periphery Edges and fine detail
  • MIP Projects brightest voxels
  • MPR Reformats alternate planes
  • Subtraction Removes shared background
  • ADC mapping Displays diffusion values
  • DICOM Medical image data standard
  • QC targets SNR, geometry, slice accuracy

Procedure APPS PR

  • Anatomy -> Pathology -> Protocol -> Setup
  • Anatomy: planes Pathology: contrast Protocol: sequences Setup: coil + landmark

Protocol Decision Picker PR

  • Acute diffusion question → DWI + ADC ( Correlate both )
  • Demyelination question → T2 + FLAIR ( CSF suppressed )
  • IAC or pituitary → Thin focused sections ( Small FOV )
  • Noncontrast angiography → Choose TOF ( Inflow effect )
  • Flow quantification → Choose phase contrast ( Set VENC )
  • Biliary tree → Choose MRCP ( Heavily T2 )
  • Fat characterization → Compare in/out-of-phase ( Look for signal loss )
  • Small joint → Dedicated coil ( Small FOV )
  • Moving anatomy → Gate or trigger ( Match physiology )

Procedures Blueprint PR

  • Procedures 57 of 200 28.5% derived
  • Neurological 25 of 200 12.5% derived
  • Body 15 of 200 7.5% derived
  • Musculoskeletal 17 of 200 8.5% derived

Procedure Planning PR

  • Anatomy Know structures and physiology
  • Imaging planes Match anatomy and pathology
  • Pathology Choose sensitive contrast
  • Protocol Select sequences and parameters
  • Patient factors Age, size, trauma, tolerance
  • Coil selection Match anatomy and coverage
  • Landmarking Center planned anatomy
  • Gating Synchronize physiologic motion
  • Contrast Predict image effects
  • Additional procedures CINE or surgical planning

Anatomic Coverage PR

  • Head + neck Brain through vascular neck
  • Spine Cervical through total spine
  • Thorax Chest, breast, vascular thorax
  • Abdomen Solid organs, bowel, MRCP
  • Pelvis Soft tissue and vascular
  • Upper extremity Shoulder through fingers
  • Lower extremity Hip through foot
  • Arthrogram Joint contrast procedure
  • Vascular studies MRA and MRV
  • Soft tissue Tumor and infection

Common Traps

Scaled score vs percent

  • 75 is scaled ≠ 75% is not required

Total vs scored items

  • 230 appear onscreen ≠ Only 200 are scored

Pilot vs optional

  • Pilots are indistinguishable ≠ Answer all 230

Conditional vs universally safe

  • Conditions are mandatory ≠ Device name alone insufficient

T2 vs T2*

  • T2 refocuses inhomogeneity ≠ T2* includes it

STIR vs FLAIR

  • STIR nulls fat ≠ FLAIR nulls CSF

Resolution vs free improvement

  • Smaller voxels cost SNR ≠ More NEX costs time

Artifact vs pathology

  • Trace encoding direction ≠ Test corrective change

Pathway vs blueprint

  • Eligibility routes differ ≠ MRI content stays shared

Last Minute

  • 1. Effective February 1, 2025
  • 2. 230 total = 200 scored + 30 pilot
  • 3. Test time 230; appointment 250 minutes
  • 4. Pass = scaled 75, not 75%
  • 5. Patient Care: 16 scored; 8% derived
  • 6. Safety: 21 scored; 10.5% derived
  • 7. Image Production: 106 scored; 53% derived
  • 8. Procedures: 57 scored; 28.5% derived
  • 9. Image subcounts: 40 / 36 / 30
  • 10. Procedure subcounts: 25 / 15 / 17
  • 11. Verify every implant condition
  • 12. B0 pulls; RF heats; gradients stimulate
  • 13. SNR, resolution, time trade off
  • 14. Procedure questions test planning factors
  • 15. Answer every item; flag uncertainty

ARRT MRI

  • Practice Questions 206 questions Study Guide 34 topics Cheat Sheet 126 facts Flashcards 50 cards Videos 2 videos Blogs 4 blogs Free CE Podcast