RANZCR pathology examination

Last revised by Joshua Yap on 12 Oct 2023

The RANZCR pathology examination is part of the RANZCR Phase 2 written examinations. It aims to assess both core and advanced knowledge of pathology, and its application to current radiological practice.

The examination can be attempted as early as 12 months from the start of training if all the other Phase 1 training requirements have been met. Trainees have a maximum of three opportunities to complete the pathology examination. 

The passing standard is set by the relevant examination review panel using formal standard-setting procedures. As well as achieving the overall passing standard, candidates must achieve minimum standards in a determined number of examination components in order to pass.

Learning outcomes

The examination aims to assess a thorough knowledge of general pathology, particularly in relation to the identification of disease and conditions using imaging. This includes recognition of the pathological consequences of disease, as well as morphological changes associated with therapies and occupational exposures.

Clinical conditions are organized into three categories:

  1. common conditions or conditions in which the radiologist plays a vital role in diagnosis

  2. conditions that may have less urgency in diagnosis

  3. rare conditions that a radiologist must broadly know of, but in enough detail to include them in a differential diagnosis

Format

The examination is 3 hours in duration and consists of:

  • 100 multiple choice questions: each with a stem and five possible answers, worth 1 mark per question

  • 10 short answer questions: two general questions and one question per topic area (see below), worth 6 marks per question (each question requires no more than 3-4 sentences)

All questions are text-based, i.e. no images are shown. There is also no negative marking.

Since August 2012 the examination has been delivered electronically. Currently it is delivered on the Practique system at a local Cliftons venue.

Content

There are nine topic areas covered in the examination with the following approximate weightings:

  • genetic syndromes / multi-system conditions (5%)

  • brain (15%)

  • head and neck (15%)

  • spine (5%)

  • cardiothoracic (15%)

  • abdominal and pelvis (20%)

  • musculoskeletal system (5%)

  • breast (5%)

  • obstetrics and gynecology (15%)

Specific topics include:

The examination questions are rewritten every year and are drawn directly from the latest edition of Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease.

Prize

Each year, RANZCR awards the most successful candidate in the pathology examination the MGF Donnan Prize, named in honor of Dr Gordon Donnan, a radiologist who was instrumental in the formative years of the college. The recipient is awarded a cash prize equivalent to the cost of their exam fee and complimentary early bird registration to the RANZCR Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) that year 3.

NB: Details are correct at the time of writing. Please check with RANZCR for updated details. 

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