| CODE | RAD2210 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Breast: Imaging, Pathology, Radiotherapy and Oncology | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Radiography | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit will provide the students with the knowledge, skills and competences to the students regarding the imaging modalities used for breast and radiotherapy techniques to treat breast cancer. The following topics will be covered: - Pathology of the Breast; - Breast Cancer Genetics; - Mammography technique; - Advanced Breast Imaging Techniques; - Localised and systemic therapies for breast cancer; - Radiotherapy techniques to treat breast cancer; and - Side-effects of breast cancer treatments. Study-unit Aims: The unit aims to: - Provide the knowledge to understand and recognise the principle pathological processes for the breast; - Analyse inheritance of breast cancer and indications for screening; - Illustrate the physics principles, design and operation of mammography devices; - Assist students with acquiring the skills and knowledge required to perform mammography; - Provide the knowledge on the use a of the range of advanced imaging procedures related to the breast; - Analyse and evaluate the indications of the therapeutic modalities available for breast cancer; - Teach the use of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) techniques commonly used to treat breast cancer; - Develop in students the ability to recognise side-effects resulting from EBRT to the breast; and - Provide knowledgeable of the more complex radiotherapy modalities. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Describe the principal pathological conditions that affect the breast; - Discuss the inheritance patterns for malignancies of the breast; - Describe how to correctly undertake mammographic examinations, giving due consideration to: patient preparation, room preparation, positioning of patient and imaging equipment and the application of radiation protection measures; - Discuss the evaluation criteria of the mammographic images produced; - Discuss the role of advanced imaging procedures used to diagnose breast pathologies; - Identify the radiotherapy modalities available to treat breast cancer and describe their mode of action; - Identify the indications for the different therapeutic modalities available for breast cancer; - Describe the EBRT techniques used to treat breast cancer, including immobilisation, imaging for planning, radiotherapy planing, image verification and administration of treatment; - Describe the common side-effects of EBRT and the appropriate prevention and management; and - Discuss the use of advanced radiotherapy techniques for breast cancer. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Apply knowledge to clinical scenarios relevant to the radiography profession; - Produce mammographic images (under supervision); - Provide for the physical and psychological needs of the patient; - Evaluate mammograms and discuss the criteria for a good diagnostic image; - Identify radiographic anatomy on mammograms; - Identify pathologies of the breast and assess the need for further images based on these pathologies; - Analyse and solve problems that arise when performing imaging of the breast using appropriate guidelines and research evidence; - Identify the therapeutic modalities indicated for different breast cancer clinical cases; - Perform appropriate immobilisation and imaging for planing, compute a treatment plan and administer EBRT for breast cancer (under supervision); and - Assess patient for EBRT side-effects, and provide advice regarding prevention and management (under supervision). Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main textbooks: - Andolina, V.F. & Lille, S.L. (2010). Mammographic Imaging - A Practical Guide (3rd Edition). Lippincott. - Aydiner, A., Igci, A. & Soran, A. (2016). Breast Disease Diagnosis and Pathology (Volume 1). Springer. - Bland, K., Copeland, E., Klimberg, V. & Gradishar, W. (2017). The Breast - Comprehensive Management of Benign and Malignant Disease (5th Edition). Elsevier. - Bombardieri E, Bonadonna G & Gianni L (2008) Breast Cancer Nuclear Medicine in Diagnosis and Therapeutic Options. - Cardenosa, G. (2017). Breast Imaging Companion (3rd Edition). Wolters Lippincott. - Ha R, Comstock CE & Morris EA (2017) Breast MRI Teaching Atlas. Springer. - Hashimoto, B.E. (2008). Practical Digital Mammography. Thieme. - Peart, O. (2018). Mammography and Breast Imaging (2nd Edition). Mc Graw-Hill. - Sencha AN, Evseeva EV, Mogutov MS & Yury NP (2013) Breast Ultrasound. Springer. Supplementary Texts: - Beyzadeoglu, M., Ozyigit, G., Ebruli, C., 2010. Basic Radiation Oncology. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Berlin, Heidelberg. - Cardoso, F., Kyriakides, S., Ohno, S., Penault-Llorca, F., Poortmans, P., Rubio, I.T., Zackrisson, S., Senkus, E., on behalf of the ESMO Guidelines Committee, 2019. Early breast cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up†. Annals of Oncology 30, 1194–1220. https://doi.org/10.1093/annonc/mdz173 - London Cancer. Guidelines for the treatment of Breast cancer with radiotherapy. September 2017. http://londoncancer.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/London-Cancer-Breast-Radiotherapy-Guidelines-2017-version-4.pdf |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Independent Study | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Paul Bezzina Karen Borg Grima Susan Mercieca Deborah Mizzi (Co-ord.) Jessica Muscat Mifsud Claude Portanier Christian Scerri |
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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 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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