Imaging with Non Ionising Radiation 2

Module details

Title

Imaging with Non Ionising Radiation 2

Type

Specialist

Module code

SPE153

Credits

30

Requirement

Compulsory

Aim of this module

This module provides the trainee with the knowledge that underpins the specialist rotation in Imaging with Non-Ionising Radiation in the third year of the MSc. 

Exposure Measurement

To ensure the trainee can appropriately measure levels of exposure and advice on safe working in areas where exposure may take place.

Information and Communication Technology

Use information and communication (ICT) in a manner relevant to the modalities.

Emerging Technologies

To evaluate an emerging non-ionising radiation imaging technique.

Submodules

Learning outcomes

1. Discuss and critically evaluate the use of non-ionising radiation in treatment.
2. Discuss appropriate image analysis/quantification techniques.
3. Participate in the commissioning and quality assurance of MRI and ultrasound equipment.
4. Explain biophotonic techniques and imaging using optical radiation.
5. Discuss and appraise the IT environment in which imaging equipment operates.

Indicative content

Fundamentals

• MRI
  • specialist methods (e.g. magnetic resonance spectroscopy, perfusion MRI, diffusion MRI, functional MRI) and their clinical applications
  • contrast media
  • hyper-polarised imaging
  • factors that affect image quality
  • development of pulse sequences
  • magnetic resonance angiography
• Ultrasound
  • Doppler – continuous wave, pulsed, colour and power. The Doppler spectrum
  • contrast media
  • harmonic imaging
  • factors that affect image quality

Clinical

• Results from analyses (e.g. qualitative, quantitative) and the context in which they were acquired for MRI and ultrasound imaging
• Limitations of applied acquisition and analysis protocols as this relates to interpretation
• Physiological and pathological processes giving rise to image findings
• The consequences of the result of the procedure to the patient’s overall clinical management, particularly in relation to radiotherapy and radiotherapy treatment planning

Image Display

• Hard copy and soft copy display systems
• External factors affecting image displays
• Quality assurance of image display systems
• Image perception

Treatments using Non-Ionising Radiation

• UV
• Photodynamic therapy
• Ultrasound, including HIFU and lithotripsy
• Calibration and dosimetry
• RF and microwave ablation

Biophotonics and Imaging using Optical Techniques

• Laser Doppler imaging
• Optical coherence tomography
• Raman spectroscopy
• Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy

Technical

• The requirements of equipment for calibration/QA, both generally and specific to each application
• Appropriate methods for data reconstruction, pre-processing (e.g. registration, smoothing) and analysis (e.g. region of interest, curve generation)
• Gated and time sequence imaging
• The commissioning process for new equipment with reference to:
  • MRI
  • ultrasound
• IT and networking
  • image analysis software
  • picture archiving and communication system (PACS)
  • specialist patient management systems, e.g. cardiology systems
  • networking and the network environment
  • system management, configuration control and software release
  • interoperability, DICOM RT, HL7 and messaging standards
  • links to hospital administration systems
  • legislative framework for IT, data protection
  • regulatory standards including IEC601 and the Medical Devices Directive as applied to software

Activities

Exposure Measurement

• Participate in the commissioning of a new MR facility, identifying the 3mT and 0.5mT field contours, and assessing the acoustic noise for various pulse sequences.
• Observe clinical imaging and determine how specific absorption rate (SAR) is affected by the patient’s body habitus, discussing your findings with your training supervisor.
• Participate in the measurement and calibration of US beam properties, discussing the implications of your finding and their patient implications with your supervisor.

Information and Communication Technology

• Observe the transfer, archiving and display of medical images within radiology and other relevant areas within secondary care, and critically analyse the process identifying strengths and potential for improvement against local guidelines.
• Follow the ICT workflow from patient referral and appointment, through modality work list, data acquisition, archiving and reporting, and discuss with your supervisor the impact of ICT workflow on the throughput of the department and the patient.
• Observe the working of a diagnostic imaging service and critically appraise the ICT infrastructure requirements for the service.
• Develop a software application to support either image acquisition or analysis.

Emerging Technologies

• Present the findings from a literature review of an emerging technique/technology at a departmental meeting
• Observe the introduction of equipment or a new technique entering a healthcare environment and discuss the process of introduction with your training supervisor, comparing the process with guidelines
• Discuss with other healthcare scientists how new techniques/technologies are developed and become clinically established
• Explore the development and subsequent widespread clinical deployment of techniques such as propeller/blade/vane and critically appraise the impact of the development of patient care