/library/oar/handle/123456789/63431 2026-06-10T19:33:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/47623 Title: Design of a standard radiography room. Abstract: The purpose of this study was to review the literature regarding the design of standard x-ray rooms focusing on equipment layout and architectural design in order to help the local radiology management when setting up new rooms or when improving existing facilities. Selected existing rooms at the radiology department at St. Luke's Hospital were subsequently assessed in the light of these guidelines. The main database used for this literature study was the Medline Database (Pubmed) whilst the keywords used included Radiological Facilities, X-Ray Room Setup, X-Ray Room Design and Radiation Protection. An important resource for the study was the NHS Estates design manual, 'Facilities for Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology'. This was supplemented by other guidelines found in the literature. The purposed guidelines were summarised in the form of a checklist for enhanced ease of use. The main conclusions of the study were that the design of the standard x-ray room should be done by a multidisciplinary team that should follow the guidelines provided by local Hospital Planning boards and Local Radiation Protection Authority and that the proper design contributes to better staff morale, image quality, job performance, increased work satisfaction, patient ease and comfort, and radiation protection. Recommendations include suggestions on the role of the radiographer in room design, the upgrading and improving of rooms 3 and 11 at the Radiology Department at St. Luke's Hospital and further study in other areas such as the assessment of other rooms in St. Luke's Hospital, Boffa Hospital and Healthcare Centres and the study of how design of standard x-ray rooms should be adjusted for paediatrics and geriatrics to achieve cater for their special needs. Description: DIP.RADIOGRAPHY 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/47538 Title: The role of imaging in head trauma. Abstract: Head trauma is the most common injury around the world and millions of people from different age groups sustain a head injury. The most common injuries are from motor vehicle accidents where the person suffering head trauma is either riding as a passenger in the car or struck as a pedestrian. Other causes of head trauma are falls and violence. Head injury is classified into three groups ranging from severe, moderate and mild head trauma. Severe and moderate head trauma are quite serious injuries because the brain is always involved. On the other hand, in mild head trauma the patient suffering head injury can have either a localized injury or an intracranial injury or both. For high diagnostic efficiency, the initial management in head trauma is very important. Choosing the appropriate imaging modality according to the severity and the state of the patient is very important so that the benefits for the patient outweigh the risks. This is not always simple and most of the times it can be very challenging especially when the patient enters the accident and emergency department suffering from minor head trauma. The medical team should be competent enough to decide which imaging modality would best suit a particular patient based on the initial clinical assessment. The different imaging modalities currently available include plain x-ray of the skull, a CT scan, an MRI or other imaging modalities like PET or Ultrasound. Each modality has got its advantages and disadvantages and applicability varies in different patients and in different situations. Choosing the appropriate imaging modality depends on many factors such as sensitivity and specificity and of course availability and accessibility of the modality. Research and evidence based studies have contributed highly to the management of head trauma patients. Several guidelines were implemented over the years in order to assist the medical team in choosing the best imaging modality and in many countries these guidelines are becoming standard protocols aiming at objectively assisting the medical team with choosing the best imaging modalities for head trauma patients. A brief analysis of the different types of guidelines was attempted in this study. With regards to the local situation in Malta, an analysis of the management of head trauma patients at St Luke's Hospital was also carried out. Currently no guidelines are formally used to assess and manage head injured patients in our main tertiary hospital and the choice of the different imaging modalities depends entirely on subjective clinical judgement. All these factors have encouraged me as the researcher to conduct a literature-based study on the role of different imaging modalities in head trauma so as to evaluate the importance of each imaging modality in the different stages of head trauma. Description: DIP.RADIOGRAPHY 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/47327 Title: Radiation protection in mobile radiography. Abstract: The purpose of this study was to review medical literature regarding patient, occupational and other persons radiation protection during mobile examinations in order identify the methods of radiation protection which would reduce the dose received. As a result it was possible to have a set of guidelines written. The literature search was carried through the Medline and Cinahl databases, and the internet. Keywords used in order to find information required included 'mobile radiography', 'radiation protection', 'dose management' and 'dose optimization'. Literature findings have shown that there are four basic principles in radiation protection. These are avoidance of the direct beam, time, distance and shielding. Apart from these principles there are other ways and means that protection can be applied when performing a mobile examination. These include communication with the patient and adjustment in the positioning of the patient in case of patient radiation protection. Distance from the source of radiation helps in protection for the radiographer and also in the case of others present in the wards. In the general hospital in Malta there are no guidelines for radiation protection in mobile radiography, therefore based on the evidence from the literature research a list of recommended guidelines are proposed. Description: DIP.RADIOGRAPHY 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/47017 Title: Imaging modalities used to visualize pathologies of the testicles and scrotum. Abstract: Testicular imaging is very uncommon when compared to imaging of other parts of the body. It is mainly done when the patient complains of scrotal pain or swelling, in cases of trauma, and when physical examination alone is not enough to come to an accurate diagnosis. As discussed in this study, testicular imaging has an extremely important role in ruling out testicular torsion, which can alter or, in more severe cases, stop blood supply to the gonads, resulting in ischemia or necrosis of the testes (Goodman, C.C. & Boissonnault W.G. 1998). Thus imaging plays an important role to confirm or exclude torsion, preventing unnecessary surgical intervention that certain clinicians recommend after physical examination. The imaging modalities available to visualize pathologies of the testicles and the scrotum are Ultrasound, Radio-Nuclide Imaging and Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Ultrasound is usually the first imaging modality of choice because it is almost always available, rather accurate, cost-effective and can be performed by the patient's bedside, and its pitfalls may be complimented with Radio-Nuclide Imaging. On the other hand, Magnetic Resonance Imaging is the least imaging modality used; however, literature shows that the role of MRI is slowly evolving. Description: DIP.RADIOGRAPHY 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z