For Step 1 or Step 2, I would not waste time studying radiology images. On Step 2, you may have a "next step" question where you need to know what type of study to obtain.
Ex. Hx PUD, new onset abdominal pain. IVF administered. Next step?
Upright plain film
Ex. 70 yo M h/o PVD, MI s/p CABG, HTN, non-compliant with meds. Sudden onset of abdominal pain. Has hx of feeling weird mass that pulses in abdominal but never showed up for abdominal US appointment. Next step?
Emergency lap
(in this case, you do not need an US to confirm a triple AAA because the guy is going to die if you do not get him to the OR)
Indications of a mammogram (hint: not typically utilized in a woman under 30 on boards 2/2 dense breast tissue).
Actual interpretation of images:
You need to know what PNA and ARDS looks like
You may occasionally see a horseshoe kidney (Q. What structure involved, IMA)
Pancreatitis (calcs on a plain abdominal film)
Brain imaging (sometimes have basal ganglia lesion in HIV, SAH, Subdural, epidural)
Bottom line: The images are easy to recognize!
If you are going into IM or general surgery, a radiology elective may be useful for you in your career... but probably not on the boards.
