Practice Test Geeks(CCS) Certified Cardiovascular Specialist Practice Test
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Diagnostic Testing & Imaging Flashcards

7 cards from real CCS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Diagnostic Testing & Imaging flashcards as text

  1. A patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy undergoes echocardiography. Which measurement best quantifies left ventricular outflow tract obstruction?

    Answer: Peak LVOT gradient by Doppler

    The peak LVOT pressure gradient measured by continuous wave Doppler directly quantifies the degree of dynamic obstruction in HCM.

  2. On a Holter monitor report, a patient shows RR intervals alternating between long and short cycles with a fixed relationship. This pattern is most consistent with:

    Answer: Second-degree AV block Mobitz type I (Wenckebach)

    Wenckebach block shows progressive PR prolongation with eventual non-conducted P wave, causing a characteristic grouped beating pattern on Holter.

  3. Which stress imaging modality is preferred for evaluating coronary artery disease in a patient with left bundle branch block?

    Answer: Pharmacologic stress with vasodilator and nuclear imaging

    LBBB causes septal motion abnormalities with exercise that can mimic ischemia on echo; vasodilator stress with nuclear imaging avoids this false-positive pattern.

  4. A coronary angiogram shows a lesion with 60% diameter stenosis. Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is measured at 0.78. What is the appropriate interpretation?

    Answer: Hemodynamically significant — revascularization is indicated

    An FFR ≤0.80 indicates hemodynamically significant ischemia, and revascularization of such lesions has been shown to improve outcomes.

  5. Which echocardiographic parameter is the best non-invasive estimate of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure?

    Answer: E/e' ratio

    The ratio of transmitral E velocity to mitral annular e' velocity (E/e') correlates strongly with invasively measured LVEDP.

  6. What is the 'string sign' seen on carotid duplex ultrasound?

    Answer: Near-occlusion of the internal carotid artery with minimal residual flow

    The string sign describes severely reduced but still present flow through a near-totally occluded ICA, appearing as a thin stream on color Doppler.

  7. In cardiac CT for calcium scoring, which scoring method assigns weight based on both area and peak attenuation of calcified lesions?

    Answer: Agatston score

    The Agatston score multiplies the lesion area by a density factor (1-4) based on peak HU, making it the standard method for coronary calcium quantification.