Course unit details:
Imaging in Clinical Diagnosis
| Unit code | IIDS67472 |
|---|---|
| Credit rating | 15 |
| Unit level | FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
| Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
The unit will include applications of imaging in routine clinical practice.
It will incorporate specific imaging techniques, basic imaging anatomy and imaging appearances of examples of pathology from the following areas:
- Neurology
- Urinary tract
- Musculoskeletal
- Paediatrics
- Cardiac
Plain radiography, CT, ultrasound, MRI and nuclear medicine will be included
The unit will consist of a combination of lectures, image viewing and practical sessions. The 30 contact hours will be divided into 10x2.5 hour teaching sessions. Sessions will include a formal presentation and interactive discussion. This will be associated with interactive image viewing, which will reinforce the subject matter of the presentations as well as giving students the opportunity to develop skills in image interpretation and verbal description. There will also be 2 practical sessions, one on MRI and one on ultrasound, which will focus on the practical aspects of imaging and will allow students to obtain hands-on experience of the techniques.
Pre/co-requisites
Students are required to have attended Non-Radioisotope Imaging and Radioisotope Imaging in order to study this unit.
Aims
The aim of this unit is to help students understand how imaging is applied in clinical practice:
- To understand the roles of the different imaging modalities in clinical diagnostic imaging
- To develop an awareness of the indications for imaging in clinical diagnosis
- To understand how specific imaging techniques may be applied to answer specific clinical questions
- To acquire some basic imaging anatomy knowledge
- To develop basic image interpretation skills
- To understand how imaging findings can be described verbally
- To understand some of the imaging appearances of common pathologies.
Learning outcomes
| Category of outcome | Students should be able to: |
| Knowledge and understanding
| • Understand the role imaging plays at the forefront of clinical diagnosis and its limitations and boundaries. • Have an understanding of the range of important clinical imaging techniques and know areas where specific techniques may be clinically useful. • Understand the imaging appearances of common pathology in the areas of neurology, urinary tract, musculoskeletal, respiratory, paediatrics and cardiology |
| Intellectual skills
| • Be able to apply their knowledge of anatomy to imaging studies and research • Develop a critical understanding of the link between pathology and imaging appearances • Continue to advance their knowledge and understanding of clinical imaging |
| Practical skills
| • Interpret projection, tomographic and multi-planar imaging techniques to localise objects in 3 dimensions • Understanding how to derive clinically useful information from images in the absence of complete data. |
| Transferable skills and personal qualities
| • Understand how to deal with complex clinical problems systematically and creatively. • Communicate imaging appearances of abnormalities to specialist and non-specialist audiences. • Develop an awareness of the responsibilities involved in operating as part of a multidisciplinary team in exercising sound judgement in complex clinical decision-making. |
Teaching and learning methods
Learning and teaching will take the form of linked traditional presentations, interactive group discussion and image viewing sessions with associated formative assessment. There will also be practical sessions.
Blackboard will be used for course materials including lecture slides and additional reading and for online formative assessments.
Assessment methods
| Method | Weight |
|---|---|
| Written exam | 60% |
| Written assignment (inc essay) | 40% |
Feedback methods
- Formal summative assessments
- Real time educative formative assessment during practical classes
Study hours
| Independent study hours | |
|---|---|
| Independent study | 150 |
Teaching staff
| Staff member | Role |
|---|---|
| Richard Hodgson | Unit coordinator |