1
Head and Neck
There will be 14 questions on imaging procedures for the head and neck in the advanced-level examination for MRI. These will cover the following areas
- Brain
- Internal auditory canal
- Pituitary
- Orbit
- Cranial nerves
- Soft tissue – neck

Q1 Image 1 was acquired in the:
(a) | Axial imaging plane | ![]() |
(b) | Sagittal imaging plane | ![]() |
(c) | Coronal imaging plane | ![]() |
(d) | Off-axis (oblique) imaging plane | ![]() |
Q2 Image 1 is an example of:
(a) | A T1 weighted image | ![]() |
(b) | A T2 weighted image | ![]() |
(c) | A spin (proton) density weighted image | ![]() |
(d) | None of the above | ![]() |
(e) | A T2* weighted image | ![]() |
Q3 On image 1, arrow A is pointing to:
(a) | The corpus callosum | ![]() |
(b) | The caudate nucleus | ![]() |
(c) | The internal capsule | ![]() |
(d) | The lateral ventricle | ![]() |
Q4 On image 1, the tissue indicated by arrow A is made up primarily of:
(a) | White matter | ![]() |
(b) | Gray matter | ![]() |
(c) | Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) | ![]() |
(d) | Muscle | ![]() |
Q5 On image 1, arrow B is pointing to:
(a) | The parietal lobe | ![]() |
(b) | The frontal lobe | ![]() |
(c) | The internal auditory canals | ![]() |
(d) | The fourth ventricle | ![]() |
Q6 On image 1, the tissue of the structure marked by arrow B is made up primarily of:
(a) | White matter | ![]() |
(b) | Gray matter | ![]() |
(c) | CSF | ![]() |
(d) | Muscle | ![]() |
Q7 On image 1, arrow C is pointing to a tissue made up primarily of:
(a) | White matter | ![]() |
(b) | Gray matter | ![]() |
(c) | CSF | ![]() |
(d) | Muscle | ![]() |
Q8 On image 1, arrow D is pointing to:
(a) | The caudate nucleus | ![]() |
(b) | The cerebellar peduncles | ![]() |
(c) | The internal capsule | ![]() |
(d) | The pituitary gland | ![]() |
Q9 It is likely that image 1 was acquired with a:
(a) | Body transmit/receive coil | ![]() |
(b) | Head transmit/receive coil | ![]() |
(c) | 5 inch round local or surface receive-only coil | ![]() |
(d) | Endorectal coil | ![]() |
Q10 On image 1, arrow E is pointing to:
(a) | The medulla oblongata | ![]() |
(b) | The pons | ![]() |
(c) | The spinal cord | ![]() |
(d) | The mid-brain | ![]() |
Q11 The decreased myelination found in brains of children under one year old results in a lack of image contrast. Consequently, in comparison to scanning adults, to achieve T2 weighted images during pediatric brain imaging often requires a:
(a) | Longer TE | ![]() |
(b) | Longer TR | ![]() |
(c) | Longer TI | ![]() |
(d) | Higher flip angle | ![]() |
Q12 To optimize brain imaging when evaluating patients for metastatic disease, one FDA approved contrast agent can be administered:
(a) | With single dose followed by rapid imaging | ![]() |
(b) | With a triple dose followed by rapid imaging | ![]() |
(c) | With single dose and imaging followed by twice the dose again after 30 minutes | ![]() |
(d) | a and b | ![]() |
Q13 With a history of seizures, the patient can be imaged using cardiac gating:
(a) | To minimize pulsatile flow motion artifact in the temporal lobes | ![]() |
(b) | To monitor the patient for potential seizures | ![]() |
(c) | To avoid talking to the patient throughout the study | ![]() |
(d) | To make vessels appear black | ![]() |
Q14 When patients arrive at the imaging center with a cranial scar, the technologist can:
(a) |