| 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’s 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: - Adam A, & Dixon, AK (2014) Grainger & Allison’s Diagnostic Radiology: 2 Vol Set (6th ed.) Churchill Livingstone. - Barrett, A., Dobbs, J., Morris, S.L. & Roques, T. (2009) Practical Radiotherapy Planning. (4th edition). London: Hodder Arnold. - Lampignano J & kendrick LE (2017) bontrager's Textbook of Radiographic Positioning and Related Anatomy (9th ed.), Mosby. - Eisenberg, RL & Johnson NM (2015) Comprehensive Radiographic Pathology (6th ed.) Mosby. - Faithfull, S. & Wells, M. (editors) (2003) Supportive Care in Radiotherapy. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. - Long, BW & Smith, BJ (2016) Merrill’s Atlas of Radiographic Positioning and Procedures (13th ed.), Mosby. - Kowalczyk, N (2017) Radiographic Pathology for Technologists (7th ed.), Mosby. - Mayer-Baese, A & Schmid, V. (2014) Pattern Recognition for Medical Imaging, (2nd Ed.) Academic Press. - Symonds, P. (2019) Walter and Miller's Textbook of Radiotherapy: Radiation Physics, Therapy and Oncology. 8th ed. Elsevier Churchhill Livingstone. Supplementary Texts: - Ellis, H., Logan, B.M., Dixon, A.K. & Bowden D.J.,(2017) Human Sectional Anatomy: Pocket Book of Body Sections, CT and MRI Images. (4th edition). London: Hodder Arnold. - Sharp PF, Gemmell HG, Murray AD (2005), Practical Nuclear Medicine. 3rd Ed. Springer. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Independent Study | ||||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Paul Bezzina Alex Alexander Nicholas Borg Karen Borg Grima (Co-ord.) Gabriel Galea Susan Mercieca Mifsud Claude Portanier Deborah Vella |
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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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