CET Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CET facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. On echocardiography, which finding most strongly suggests non-compaction cardiomyopathy? → Prominent trabeculations with deep intertrabecular recesses in the LV apex
2. During a stress echocardiogram, new wall motion abnormalities induced by exercise or pharmacologic stress indicate: → Myocardial ischemia in the territory supplied by a stenotic coronary artery
3. Afterload is most accurately defined as: → The pressure or wall stress the ventricle must overcome during ejection
4. Which imaging technique is inserted into the esophagus for close-up views? → Transesophageal echocardiography
5. What should a sonographer do if a patient reports chest pain during an exam? → Stop the exam and alert medical staff
6. Which echocardiographic feature best distinguishes cardiac tamponade from constrictive pericarditis? → Right ventricular diastolic collapse in tamponade
7. What is the normal range for left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) measured by echocardiography? → 52–72%
8. What is the role of the sinoatrial (SA) node? → Initiates electrical impulses in the heart
9. Which protocol ensures safety during transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)? → Monitor vitals and prepare emergency gear
10. What is the most common echocardiographic finding in patients with sarcoidosis involving the heart? → Regional wall motion abnormalities not following a coronary distribution
11. Which communication protocol is used for real-time monitoring of network device status within a hospital's cardiac imaging network infrastructure? → SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)
12. In an echo machine's Doppler system, what is the function of the sample volume (range gate) in pulsed wave Doppler mode? → Defines the specific depth and size of the region from which velocity data is sampled
13. Under the False Claims Act, a CET who knowingly bills Medicare for an echocardiogram that was not performed faces: → Civil monetary penalties, treble damages, and possible exclusion from federal programs
14. How should CET professionals evaluate new technology tools? → Assess functionality, reliability, security, and alignment with professional needs
15. Under HIPAA regulations, an echocardiography technician may share patient images with which of the following without a patient's authorization? → Another treating physician involved in the patient's care
16. A patient with rheumatic heart disease most commonly shows which mitral valve echocardiographic pattern? → Thickened leaflets with diastolic doming and commissural fusion
17. What does a TAPSE (tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion) value of <17mm indicate? → Mildly reduced right ventricular systolic function
18. On a pulsed-wave Doppler spectral display, flow moving toward the transducer is displayed: → Above the baseline
19. How should an CET professional handle unexpected results that differ from predictions? → Analyze factors, document findings, and adjust the approach based on what was learned
20. What is the purpose of 'persistence' (frame averaging) in echocardiographic image processing? → Reduces noise by averaging consecutive frames, smoothing the image
21. What separates the left and right sides of the heart? → The septum
22. Which of the following actions would constitute a breach of professional boundaries for an echocardiography technician? → Entering into a personal financial relationship with a patient
23. A patient requests a copy of their echocardiogram report. Under HIPAA, the covered entity must provide access within: → 30 days, with a possible 30-day extension
24. When an echocardiography technician encounters an incidental finding not related to the ordered study, what should they do? → Document the finding and ensure the interpreting physician is aware
25. What is the benefit of using contrast agents in echocardiography? → Improve image clarity
26. Which action would violate the HIPAA Privacy Rule in an echo lab setting? → Leaving a printed echo report visible at an unattended workstation
27. Mandatory reporting obligations for a CET most likely include reporting which of the following to appropriate authorities? → Suspected child abuse identified incidentally during a pediatric echocardiogram
28. What is the primary imaging mode used in echocardiography? → 2D imaging
29. During a TEE examination, rotating the multiplane angle from 0° to approximately 45-60° from a mid-esophageal position typically yields which view? → Mid-esophageal aortic valve short-axis view
30. On echocardiography, which pattern of ventricular filling is most consistent with constrictive pericarditis? → Respiratory variation in mitral inflow velocities >25%