Vascular Technology Exam

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 cerebrovascular testing represents 20%–25% of the Vascular Technology exam, whereas quality assurance statistics represent 2%–4%.

The complete outline for the Vascular Technology specialty examination appears below.

I. Cerebrovascular (25%–35%)
A. Anatomy, Physiology and Hemodynamics (1%–5%)         1. Aortic arch         2. Upper extremity         3. Cervical carotid         4. Vertebral         5. Intracranial (circle of Willis)    B. Mechanisms of disease (1%–5%)         1. Risk factors         2. Atherosclerosis         3. Dissection         4. Thromboembolic         5. Subclavian steal         6. Carotid body tumor         7. Fibromuscular dysplasia         8. Neointimal hyperplasia    C. Signs and symptoms (1%–5%)         1. Transient symptoms         2. Stroke         3. Physical exam (neurologic, bruits, bilateral brachial pressures)    D. Testing (20%–25%)         1. Noninvasive (patient positioning, technique, interpretation,              capabilities and limitations)              a. Duplex imaging (B-mode, Doppler, color Doppler)                   (1) Stenosis                   (2) Occlusion                   (3) Intraoperative              b. Transcranial Doppler         2. Miscellaneous diagnostic tests (methods, interpretation,              limitations) (1%–3%)              a. Arteriography              b. MR angiography              c. CT         3. Treatment/followup(1%–5%)              a. Medical (pharmacological, risk reduction, lifestyle                   modification)              b. Endovascular(angioplasty, stent)              c. Surgical
II. Venous (25%–35%)
A. Anatomy (Deep, superficial and perforating), Physiology and         Hemodynamics (1%–5%)         1. Upper extremity         2. Lower extremity         3. Central (vena cava, innominate/brachiocephalic)         4. Venous wall and valves    B. Mechanisms of disease (2%–7%)         1. Risk factors         2. Acute venous thrombosis              a. Deep              b. Superficial         3. Chronic deep venous obstruction         4. Chronic venous valvular insufficiency (primary, secondary)         5. Varicose veins         6. Congenital         7. Pulmonary embolism    C. Signs and symptoms (1%–3%)         1. Acute         2. Chronic (skin changes, lymphedema, ulceration)    D. Testing (upper and lower extremity) (20%–25%)         1. Noninvasive (patient positioning, technique, interpretation,              capabilities and limitations)              a. Acute venous thrombosis                   (1) Duplex imaging (B-mode, Doppler, color Doppler)                   (2) Continuous wave              b. Chronic venous insufficiency/obstruction                   (1) Duplex imaging (B-mode, Doppler, color Doppler)                   (2) Reflux plethysmography (air, photo)         2. Venography (methods, interpretation, capabilities, limitations)              (0%–3%)         3. Treatment (1%–5%)              a. Anticoagulation              b. Thrombolytic therapy              c. Vena caval filter              d. Support hose              e. Surgical
III. Peripheral Arterial (20%–30%)
A. Anatomy, Physiology and Hemodynamics (1%–5%)         1. Aortic arch         2. Upper extremity         3. Abdominal aorta         4. Lower extremity         5. Microscopic    B. Mechanism of disease (1%–5%)         1. Risk factors         2. Atherosclerosis         3. Embolism         4. Aneurysm         5. Nonatherosclerotic lesions (arteritis, vasospastic disorders,              dissection, entrapment syndromes)    C. Signs and symptoms (1%–5%)         1. Chronic disease (claudication, rest pain, tissue loss)         2. Acute arterial occlusion (thrombosis, emboli)         3. Vasospastic disorders         4. Physical examination (skin changes, pulse palpation,              auscultation)    D. Testing (upper and lower extremity) (15%–20%)         1. Noninvasive (patient positioning, technique, interpretation,              capabilities, limitations)              a. Doppler evaluation (analogue, spectral waveforms)                   (1) Qualitative interpretation                   (2) Quantitative interpretation (pulsatility index, acceleration                         time)              b. Pressures                   (1) Ankle/brachial index                   (2) Segmental pressures                   (3) Exercise testing                   (4) Reactive hyperemia              c. Plethysmography                   (1) Volume pulse recording                   (2) Photoplethysmography (digital pressures and cold stress)              d. Duplex imaging (B-mode, Doppler, color Doppler)                   (1) Stenosis                   (2) Occlusion                   (3) Aneurysm                   (4) Bypass graft (intraoperative, post-operative surveillance)         2. Miscellaneous diagnostic tests (methods, interpretation,              limitations) (1%–3%)              a. Arteriorgraphy              b.MR angiography              c. CT         3. Treatment (1%–5%)              a. Medical (pharmacologic, lifestyle modification)              b. Endovascular (angioplasty, stent)              c. Surgical (endarterectomy, bypass)
IV. Abdomen/visceral (5%–15%)
A. Anatomy, Physiology and Hemodynamics (1%–3%)         1. Arterial (celiac, mesenterics, renals, hepatic)         2. Venous (vena cava, renal, portal, mesenteric)    B. Mechanisms of disease (0%–3%)         1. Risk factors         2. Renovascular hypertension         3. Mesenteric ischemia         4. Portal hypertension    C. Signs and symptoms    D. Testing (3%–10%)         1. Duplex imaging         2. Angiography    E. Treatment (1%–3%)
V. Miscellaneous conditions/tests (5%–15%)
A. Preoperative vein mapping (2%–5%)    B. Pseudoaneurysms, arteriovenous fistulae (2%–5%)    C. Dialysis access (0%–3%)    D. Organ transplants (renal, liver) (0%–1%)    E. Impotence testing (0%–1%)    F. Preoperative arterial mapping (radial, epigastric, mammary)         (1%–3%)    G. Temporal arteritis (0%–1%)    H. Thoracic outlet syndrome (0%–3%)    I. Trauma (1%–3%)
VI. Quality assurance (3%–5%)
A. Statistics (2%–4%)         1. Sensitivity/specificity         2. Positive and negative predictive value         3. Accuracy    B. Patient safety (1%–3%)         1. Infection control         2. Medical emergencies

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