AHPC Licensure Examination — Therapy Radiography

Sample Therapy Radiography practice questions

Try these 12 questions from different topics. Open "Show answer" to check yourself and read the explanation.

1. Question 1 · Treatment Planning & Simulation

   Why are immobilization and reproducible positioning important in fractionated radiotherapy?

   1. A.They help deliver each fraction to the planned target while limiting dose to normal tissue
   2. B.They remove the need for patient identification
   3. C.They make imaging unnecessary in every case
   4. D.They allow the prescription to be changed without authorization
   Show answer

   Answer: A. They help deliver each fraction to the planned target while limiting dose to normal tissue

   Reproducibility connects simulation, planning, verification and daily treatment geometry.

2. Question 2 · Treatment Verification & Patient Safety

   Before radiation is delivered, what should the therapy radiographer verify?

   1. A.Only the appointment time
   2. B.Patient identity, prescription, treatment site, plan and required setup checks
   3. C.Only the machine colour
   4. D.Another patient’s previous setup
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Patient identity, prescription, treatment site, plan and required setup checks

   Structured verification provides barriers against wrong-patient, wrong-site and wrong-plan treatment.

3. Question 3 · Quality Assurance & Radiation Protection

   A treatment machine output check is outside the permitted tolerance. What should happen?

   1. A.Adjust patient records to match the output
   2. B.Continue treatment until the next annual check
   3. C.Stop affected clinical use and escalate for investigation and authorization before resuming
   4. D.Delete the measurement
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Stop affected clinical use and escalate for investigation and authorization before resuming

   Out-of-tolerance performance requires containment, investigation and documented resolution to protect patients.

4. Question 4 · Immobilisation & Mould Room Techniques

   Thermoplastic masks are softened before moulding by:

   1. A.Freezing them for an hour so that they become flexible
   2. B.Soaking them in alcohol
   3. C.Heating them in a warm water bath (about 65–75 °C)
   4. D.Applying adhesive
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Heating them in a warm water bath (about 65–75 °C)

   The softened mesh is shaped over the patient and hardens as it cools.

5. Question 5 · Oncology Principles & Staging

   In TNM staging, "N" describes:

   1. A.The number of tumours found in the organ of origin
   2. B.The tumour's histological grade
   3. C.Necrosis within the tumour
   4. D.Spread to regional lymph nodes
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Spread to regional lymph nodes

   T = primary tumour size/extent; N = nodes; M = distant metastasis.

6. Question 6 · Patient Care & Communication

   On the first day of treatment, the therapy radiographer should:

   1. A.Begin treatment immediately without any discussion to keep to time
   2. B.Explain, check consent and answer questions
   3. C.Ask the patient to read a leaflet only
   4. D.Discuss the prognosis in detail
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Explain, check consent and answer questions

   Information reduces anxiety and supports informed consent.

7. Question 7 · Treatment Delivery & Verification

   A systematic set-up error is one that:

   1. A.Varies randomly from one fraction to the next and averages out
   2. B.Only occurs on the first day
   3. C.Is the same in every fraction
   4. D.Is always smaller than 1 mm
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Is the same in every fraction

   Systematic errors shift the whole dose distribution and need correction.

8. Question 8 · Radiotherapy Side Effects & Patient Care

   Acute skin reactions from radiotherapy usually begin:

   1. A.On the first day of treatment, immediately after the first fraction
   2. B.About 2–3 weeks into treatment
   3. C.Only months after treatment ends
   4. D.Never with megavoltage beams
   Show answer

   Answer: B. About 2–3 weeks into treatment

   Reactions peak towards the end of treatment and in the following 1–2 weeks.

9. Question 9 · Cancer Sites & Techniques

   The standard curative treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer is:

   1. A.Surgery alone followed by observation without any further treatment
   2. B.Chemotherapy alone
   3. C.Chemoradiotherapy followed by brachytherapy
   4. D.Brachytherapy alone
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Chemoradiotherapy followed by brachytherapy

   Cervical cancer is one of the commonest cancers treated in Ghana's radiotherapy centres.

10. Question 10 · Cross-sectional Anatomy & Organs at Risk

    The main organs at risk in prostate radiotherapy are the:

    1. A.Rectum and bladder (and femoral heads)
    2. B.Kidneys and liver, which lie close to the prostate in the pelvis
    3. C.Lungs and heart
    4. D.Thyroid and larynx
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Rectum and bladder (and femoral heads)

    Rectal toxicity is often dose-limiting.

11. Question 11 · Atomic & Nuclear Physics

    Isotopes of an element have the same number of:

    1. A.Neutrons but a different number of protons in the nucleus
    2. B.Protons but different numbers of neutrons
    3. C.Electrons and neutrons but different protons
    4. D.Nucleons in total
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Protons but different numbers of neutrons

    The atomic number (Z) defines the element; mass number (A) = protons + neutrons.

12. Question 12 · Interactions of Radiation with Matter

    The photoelectric effect is most likely when:

    1. A.Photon energy is very high and the absorber has a low atomic number
    2. B.The absorber is water at megavoltage energies
    3. C.Photon energy is low and the absorber has a high atomic number
    4. D.Photons exceed 1.022 MeV
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Photon energy is low and the absorber has a high atomic number

    Probability ∝ Z³/E³, which is why it dominates diagnostic contrast between bone and soft tissue.