FRCR CASES

Forward

The creator of this resource is a Radiologist who has been involved in FRCR teaching for over 15 years. The content on this website represents a culmination of this experience.

The new format FRCR Short Cases

Going back to the previous iteration of the FRCR 2B exam and comparing this to the modern working practice of a UK radiologist; asking candidates to report purely trauma films in the Rapid Reporting exam with the viva acting as a forum to showcase abdominal radiographs, chest radiographs and musculoskeletal interpretation skills mixed in with a small number of cross sectional cases did not accurately represent the modern working practices of Radiologists. Currently the majority of plain films tend to be reported by radiographers +/- with a degree of artificial intelligence support slowly becoming more widespread (at the time of the writing of this article this is still in the early adopter phase in the UK). The primary radiograph which a radiologist is likely to encounter is a chest radiograph. Unfortunately, abdominal radiographs are being rapidly replaced by CT scans (as yours truly is a GI interest radiologist I can tell you there is no going back from this trend with a declining role of abdominal radiographs). Thus, the new short case component of the FRCR 2B exam replacing the traditional rapid reporting is more representative of the current working practice of a Radiologist within the NHS. Judging from the content available on the RCR guidance site the new structured answers are more akin to the manner in which the traditional viva (now called oral) exam was approached with an observation, diagnosis/differentials and management plan. Also replacing the verbal process with a written but keeping the key components the same.

Key Advice

Like the old style rapid reporting exam, this the short care exam is the component where revision actually can directly correlate with better exam performance. This is in partial contrast to the oral exam which although is more standardised now can still be hit and miss. My personal feeling about the long case component (which I feel most represents the actual workings of a radiologist) is this does not need a lot of time to revise for. In summary PRACTICING FOR THE SHORT CASE EXAM WILL HAVE A DIRECT CORRELATION WITH PERFORMANCE.

This Teaching Resource​

Short Cases

There are 35 Packets. 1-28, have been divided to mimic the recommended ratio of cases compromising chest radiographs, musculoskeletal imaging and abdominal radiographs. The approximate ratio of cases is 75% adult and 25% paediatric.

Abdominal Radiograph revision

Each packet approximately has one case representing the composition to be reflected in the actual exam but packets 29-31 are all abdominal radiographs with numerous examples of perforation, volvulus etc. This has been created because there is currently a gap in teaching with exposure in abdominal radiographs being severely limited resulting in low confidence in this area when tested in vivas. The object of this resource is to provide a MASSIVE DATABASE OF cases to significantly increase confidence to get this case right in the exam.

Trauma Reporting

Packets 1-28 contain some trauma plain films but 32-35 are simply are all trauma. This is to provide a focused database to practice this area of radiology as the Royal College guidance does not stipulate what portion of the cases are trauma in the new style exam.

Style of Cases, DEEP LEARNING AND FOCUSED APPROACH

In the packets you might get a right upper lobe collapse, followed by a right upper lobe mass, then a right rib destruction all on sequential chest radiographs. THIS IS A DELIBERATE PLOY. By showing you pathologies in similar areas this will stimulate deep learning.

All model answers are divided into three components to help your learn; observation, diagnosis/differential and recommendations.

I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU GO THROUGH THE CASES TWICE PRIOR TO THE EXAM!