FRCR FRCR Interventional Radiology 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is primarily used for which condition?
- Unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (Correct answer)
- Renal artery stenosis
- Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation
- Superior vena cava syndrome
Correct answer: Unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma
TACE delivers chemotherapy directly to hepatocellular carcinoma via the hepatic artery while causing ischemia by embolizing tumor vasculature.
Question 2: What is the Seldinger technique?
- Percutaneous vessel access using a needle, guidewire, and catheter sequence (Correct answer)
- Open surgical cutdown for arterial access
- Ultrasound-guided vein puncture only
- Fluoroscopic guidance for organ biopsy
Correct answer: Percutaneous vessel access using a needle, guidewire, and catheter sequence
The Seldinger technique involves puncturing a vessel with a needle, passing a guidewire through the needle, removing the needle, and advancing a catheter over the wire.
Question 3: Which embolic agent is most commonly used for uterine fibroid embolization (UFE)?
- Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles or microspheres (Correct answer)
- Gelatin sponge (Gelfoam)
- Coils
- N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) glue
Correct answer: Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles or microspheres
PVA particles or calibrated microspheres (300–500 or 500–700 μm) permanently occlude the uterine arteries supplying fibroids in UFE.
Question 4: TIPS (Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt) is indicated for:
- Refractory variceal bleeding and refractory ascites (Correct answer)
- Hepatic vein thrombosis only
- Biliary stricture dilation
- Portal vein aneurysm
Correct answer: Refractory variceal bleeding and refractory ascites
TIPS creates an intrahepatic channel between the portal and hepatic veins to decompress portal hypertension in patients with refractory variceal hemorrhage or ascites.
Question 5: Percutaneous nephrostomy is most urgently indicated in which scenario?
- Obstructed infected hydronephrosis (pyonephrosis) (Correct answer)
- Non-obstructive renal collecting system dilatation
- Renal cyst aspiration
- Retrograde ureteral stent failure without infection
Correct answer: Obstructed infected hydronephrosis (pyonephrosis)
Pyonephrosis with infected obstruction is a urological emergency requiring urgent percutaneous decompression to prevent urosepsis and irreversible renal damage.
Question 6: Which access site is most commonly used for endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR)?
- Common femoral artery (Correct answer)
- Brachial artery
- Radial artery
- Popliteal artery
Correct answer: Common femoral artery
The common femoral artery provides the large-caliber access required for the delivery sheaths used in EVAR of abdominal aortic aneurysms.
FRCR FRCR Interventional Radiology 1
Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is primarily used for which condition?