Exam Content Outline

The American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers publishes its exam outlines and other important information on its website (www.ARDMS.org). Visit the site for complete information about applying for and taking the registry examinations. The outline for each exam indicates the approximate percentage of the exam that a particular topic represents. This information is important because it indicates the relative importance of each topic and allows you to study more effectively. For example, the topic of instrumentation represents 1%–5% of the Pediatric Echocardiography exam, whereas congenital pathology represents 40%–60%.

The complete outline for the Pediatric Echocardiography examination appears below.

Please note that this is the new Pediatric Echocardiography Exam Content Outline, which is effective as of February, 2007. Click here to review the old outline.

I. Instrumentation (1%–5%)
A. Transducers    B. Recording formats    C. ECG    D. M-mode imaging    E. Two-dimensional imaging / harmonics    F. Doppler (PW, CW, color, tissue imaging)    G. Recognition of technical artifacts
II. Phases of the cardiac cycle (1%–5%)
A. Systolic events    B. Diastolic events
III. Normal anatomy (5%–10%)
A. Situs and position    B. Systemic and pulmonary venous connections    C. Chambers / septa    D. Atrioventricular connection and valves    E. Ventriculoarterial connection and semilunar valves    F. Great vessels, branches and relationships    G. Other adjacent and related structures
IV. Hemodynamics (10%–15%)
A. Systemic - venous    B. Pulmonary - venous    C. Systemic - arterial    D. Pulmonary - arterial    E. Atrioventricular events    F. Shunts
V. Functional qualitative and quantitative assessment (5%–10%)
A. Systolic function    B. Diastolic function    C. Linear measurements    D. Volumes    E. Wall motion abnormalities    F. Velocities and pressure gradients
VI. Congenital pathology (40%–60%)
A. Abnormalities related to situs and position    B. Systemic and pulmonary venous connection    C. Defects in cardiac septation    D. Atrioventricular septal defects    E. Conotruncal defects    F. Abnormalities of atrioventricular and ventriculoarterial connection    G. Ventricular hypoplasia    H. Abnormalities of ventricular inflow (valve / obstruction /         insufficiency)    I. Abnormalities of ventricular outflow (valve / obstruction /       insufficiency)    J. Abnormal vascular connections and structures    K. Syndromes involving cardiac abnormalities
VII. Acquired pathology (5%–10%)
A. Cardiomyopathies    B. Space-occupying lesions (mass / tumor / vegetation / thrombi)    C. Aneurysms    D. Fistulas    E. Kawasaki disease    F. Rheumatic heart disease    G. Effusions (pericardial and pleural)    H. Drug toxicity
VIII. Surgical repair, palliation, transplantation & subsequent         follow-up (10%–25%)
IX. Special procedures (1%–5%)
A. Pericardiocentesis    B. Catheterization interventions / device occlusion procedures    C. Transesophageal echo    D. Balloon atrial septostomy (Rashkind)    E. Saline contrast    F. Special considerations for the sedated patient

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Old Outline

I. Instrumentation (0%–5%)
A. Two-dimensional    B. Transducer/Doppler    C. Recording Format    D. Ancillary Recording Modalities         1. ECG         2. Pulse         3. Resp
II. Phases of the Cardiac Cycle (0%–5%)
A. Systolic Events    B. Diastolic Events
III. Normal Anatomy (10%–20%)
A. Semilunar Valves/Great Vessels    B. Atrioventricular Valves    C. Chambers/Septa    D. Other Related Structures
IV. Hemodynamics (10%–25%)
A. Systemic-Venous    B. Pulmonary Venous    C. Systemic-Arterial    D. Pulmonary-Arterial    E. Atrioventricular Events    F. Shunts
V. Scanning Technique (5%–10%)
A. M-mode    B. Cross Sectional    C. Contrast    D. Transesophageal    E. Doppler Speed Color
VI. Functional Assessment (5%–10%)
A. Volumes    B. Contractility    C. Time Intervals
VII. Congenital Pathology (45%–65%)
A. Atrioventricular Valve Abnormalities    B. Regurgitant Lesions    C. Left Heart Obstructions    D. Right Heart Obstructions    E. Volume Overload    F. Shunts    G. Tumors    H. Syndromes Involving Cardiac Abnormalities
VIII.Acquired Pathology (10%–25%)
A. Pericardial Effusion    B. Infective Endocarditis    C. Rheumatic Heart Disease    D. Kawasaki Disease    E. Drug Toxicity    F. Cardiomyopathies
IX. Surgically Repaired Congenital Heart Disease (10%–25%)
X. Fetal Echocardiography (1%–5%)

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