| CODE | RAD2211 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Thorax: Imaging, Pathology and Radiotherapy | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Radiography | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit will provide students with the knowledge required to image and provide radiotherapy treatment techniques to the thorax. The following topics will be covered: - Chest imaging technique; - Chest pathologies; - Thorax sectional anatomy; - Cardiac Computerised Tomography (CT); - Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI); - Lung and Cardiac Nuclear Medicine (NM); - Echocardiography; and - Oncology and Radiotherapy technique of the oesophageal, mesothelioma and lung cancer. Study-unit Aims: This study-unit aims to: - Demonstrate an understanding of the oncology and radiotherapy technique of oesophageal, mesothelioma and lung cancer; - Discuss management options and care of patients with such malignancies; - Provide a learning situation which will enable the student to become proficient at performing diagnostically acceptable standards of the radiographic procedures related to the thorax; - Ensure an understanding of the justification and choice for the projections and examinations required to demonstrate the anatomy of the thorax; - Enable students to recognise pathologies and disease processes; - Encourage students to keep up to date with current developments in medical imaging; - Help students understand the role of specialised diagnostic modalities when imaging the thorax; and - Enable students to apply radiation safety and other safety procedures when imaging and/or treating a patient. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Discuss the oncology and radiotherapy technique used to manage oesophageal, mesothelioma and lung cancer; - Describe the role of the radiographer in the overall care of patient presenting an injury/pathology/condition related to the thorax; - Describe how to correctly undertake radiographic examinations of the thorax, giving due consideration to: patient preparation, room preparation, selection of appropriate protocols and exposure factors, positioning of patient and imaging equipment and the application of radiation protection measures; - Identify and describe, using the correct anatomical terminology, the structure and orientation of bones, joints and other relevant anatomical structures of the thorax; - Discuss the evaluation criteria of the radiographic images produced; - Reflect on and discuss the potential impact the image quality may have on the patient鈥檚 management and care; - Explain the advantages and disadvantages of using different imaging modalities to diagnose chest pathologies; - Discuss the sensitivity and specificity of the various imaging modalities to specific clinical indications when imaging the thorax; and - Make use of the appropriate radiation safety and other safety procedures. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Apply radiotherapy principles in the management of oesophageal, mesothelioma and lung cancer; - Demonstrate skills and competencies to produce diagnostic images of the thorax (under supervision) while providing for the physical and psychological needs of the patient; - Analyse the clinical request and justify the diagnostic examination of the thorax; - Decide on the radiographic technique to be performed in accordance with the request, clinical history, clinical indications and patient presentation; - Practice and apply correct positioning techniques for the patient, giving due consideration to the relationship between the patient and imaging equipment and the use of immobilisation devices; - Practice application of radiation protection measures to ensure optimisation of dose and image quality; - Adapt and optimise radiographic techniques to the needs of the individual patient; - Evaluate radiographic images and discuss the criteria for a good diagnostic image; - Identify radiographic anatomy and explain the radiographic appearance of all relevant bony and soft tissue structures, positioning errors and artifacts; - Identify pathologies of the thorax and assess the need for further radiographic projections or additional specialised imaging, based on these pathologies; - Analyse and solve problems that arise when performing an x-ray of the thorax using appropriate guidelines and research evidence; and - Apply safety procedures. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts - Lampignano J & Kendrick LE (2024) Textbook of Radiographic Positioning and Related Anatomy (11th ed.), Mosby. - Eisenberg, RL (2024) Comprehensive Radiographic Pathology, (8th ed.), Elsevier. - McQuillen Martensen K. (2024) Radiographic Image Analysis (6th ed), Saunders. - Washington CM, Leaver DT & Trad M (2021) Washington & Leaver鈥檚 Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy. 5th ed. Elsevier. - Morris S, Roques T, Ahmad S & Loo S (2023) Practical Radiotherapy Planning: Fifth Edition, CRC Press. Supplementary Readings - Segado Guillot SJ, Polonio Ruiz MJ & Prieto Granados P (2023) Supportive Treatment in Radiation Oncology (II): Guidelines for the management of skin, genitourinary, cardiorespiratory and extremity toxicity, Our Knowledge Publishing. - Rancati T & Fiorino C (2019) Modelling Radiotherapy Side Effects: Practical Applications for Planning Optimisation (1st ed), CRC Press. - Singh H. (2018) Cross Sectional Imaging Made Easy (2nd ed), Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers. - Raman SP, Rosado-de-Christenson ML, Zaheer A, Mart铆nez-Jim茅nez S, Fananapazir G, Garrana S, Rogers D, Foster BR (2023) Imaging Anatomy: Chest, Abdomen, Pelvis (3rd ed), Elsevier. - Gilmore D & Waterstram-Rich KM (2023) Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (9th ed), Independently published. - EANM Technologists鈥� Guides, EANM website 鈥� updated 2024. https://eanm.org/publications/other-publications/technologists-guide/ |
||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Independent Study | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
|
||||||||
| LECTURER/S | |||||||||
|
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
|||||||||