Practice Test GeeksCMC - Cardiac Medicine Certification Practice Test
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CMC Cardiac Diagnostics & Imaging Flashcards

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

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  1. During cardiac catheterization, what does a fractional flow reserve (FFR) value below 0.80 indicate?

    Answer: Hemodynamically significant stenosis warranting revascularization

    FFR <0.80 confirms that a stenosis is reducing myocardial perfusion enough to cause ischemia, supporting the decision to intervene.

  2. What remains the gold standard diagnostic test for defining coronary artery anatomy and stenosis severity?

    Answer: Invasive coronary angiography

    Invasive coronary angiography via cardiac catheterization provides direct visualization of coronary anatomy and is the diagnostic gold standard.

  3. On a nuclear myocardial perfusion study, what does a fixed perfusion defect (present on both stress and rest images) indicate?

    Answer: Myocardial scar from prior infarction

    A fixed defect that does not improve on rest imaging indicates non-viable scar tissue from prior myocardial infarction.

  4. What is the most feared vascular complication of transfemoral cardiac catheterization access?

    Answer: Hematoma or retroperitoneal hemorrhage

    Femoral artery access carries risk of groin hematoma or retroperitoneal hemorrhage if the puncture is above the inguinal ligament.

  5. In cardiac PET imaging for myocardial viability assessment, which two tracers are commonly used?

    Answer: Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and rubidium-82

    Cardiac PET uses FDG to assess glucose metabolism (viability) and Rb-82 for perfusion, identifying hibernating myocardium.

  6. What key advantage does intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) offer over conventional coronary angiography during catheterization?

    Answer: Provides cross-sectional imaging of plaque composition and true vessel wall dimensions

    IVUS uses an ultrasound catheter inside the artery to image the vessel wall, revealing plaque burden, composition, and true lumen size beyond angiographic silhouette.