| CODE | RAD4130 | ||||||||||||||||
| TITLE | Clinical Imaging Practice 8: Nuclear Medicine (NM) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scanning | ||||||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 04 - Years 4, 5 in Modular UG or PG Cert Course | ||||||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Radiography | ||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit is designed to enable radiography students to apply theoretical knowledge and skills gained in previous years as well as to help them develop competencies in scanning of patients undergoing NM and PET/CT examinations. The study-unit will include clinical demonstration and practical sessions to help guide students' practice and encourage the development of knowledge, skills and competences. In particular, students will be expected to discuss principles and issues relating to the appropriate patient preparation prior to NM and PET/CT exams, focusing especially on the required patient care and patient communication needed to ensure a diagnostic result. The routine scanning techniques used in both these imaging modalities will also be covered. In addition, students will be expected to demonstrate critical thinking skills in order to apply radiation protection principles when scanning patients in NM and PET/CT. Students will also be able to perform image evaluation of common clinical exams, such as bone and cardiac scans in NM and 18F FDG scans in PET/CT. In this study-unit, students will attend for 30 hours clinical practice in NM, and another 30 hours in PET/CT. 15 hours are allocated for student independent studies. The hours related to this study-unit can be spread during the academic year. Clinical placements will be assigned within the NM department and PET/CT unit, where students are expected to practice under the supervision of a radiographer and/or clinical demonstrator. Clinical demonstrators will regularly meet the students for tutorials and in order to provide feedback while ensuring the development of the required clinical competencies. At scheduled periods during the academic year a minimum of two members of staff will conduct a formal clinical assessment on each student. The examination will consist of 2 clinical examinations which carry equal weighting. Component 1 - Setting up and performing a cardiac examination Nuclear Medicine (duration 1.5 hrs). Component 2 - setting up and performing a whole body PET/CT (duration 1.5 hrs). Both assessments will be carried out under the supervision of the examiners as well as a clinical radiographer. Students will be required to pass on both components to successfully complete the study-unit. Study-unit Aims: The study-unit aims to allow students to develop knowledge, skills and competencies relating to performing routine NM and PET/CT examinations of patients, under the minimal guidance of a qualified radiographer. Amongst others, this study unit will seek to provide the knowledge in order for students to: - Apply, use and select appropriate NM and PET/CT imaging devices and to be aware of their applications in clinical practice; - Practice safely by implementing radiation protection rules and regulations in NM and PET/CT; - Integrate theory and practice skills in pursuit of continued competence in routine, general Nuclear Medicine procedures, such as: whole body bone imaging and Cardiac imaging, and 18F FDG imaging in PET/CT. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Appraise NM and PET/CT imaging techniques for routinely performed procedures; - Discuss safe working practices through optimised radiation dose management of patients; - Analyse the implications in the use of radionuclides for routine imaging purposes; - Apply the concepts of pathophysiology for the clinical investigation and management of patients performing a NM or a PET/CT scan; - Recognise the characteristic manifestations, pattern recognition, and image assessment of pathologies observed in NM and PET/CT according to the protocol selected; - Apply correct radiation safety practices to routine NM and PET/CT scanning procedures, while being able to reflect on the impact of radiation dose monitoring on both patient and staff safety. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Relate the relevant anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology to the required NM and PET/CT procedures; - Justify routinely performed NM and PET/CT scans based on the clinical indications provided; - Implement effectively protocols and imaging procedures for routine NM examinations, such as bone and cardiac scans, and for 18F FDG exams in PET/CT; - Assess if patients are prepared for the required NM and PET/CT scans, by performing the necessary patient communication, in line with established procedures and protocols; - Identify the advantages and limitations of the NM and PET/CT procedures, in order to be able to produce the required diagnostic image/s; - Perform routine NM and PET/CT examinations with minimal assistance from and while being supervised by a qualified radiographer; - Demonstrate an understanding of the basic specific computing required for image acquisition and analysis; - Apply ethical, moral and clinical skills in order to effectively obtain the best diagnostic image with the most effective patient care; - Critically evaluate the resultant images obtained with both imaging modalities in order to identify areas for improvement; - Effectively communicate the required information to the patient at the end of the NM or PET/CT examination. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main text/s: - Harvey A. Ziessman , Janis P. O'Malley and James H. Thrall (2013), Nuclear Medicine : The Requisites, 4th edition, Elsevier - Health Sciences Division. - Kristen M. Waterstram-Rich and David Gilmore (2016), Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT : Technology and Techniques, 8th edition, Elsevier - Health Sciences Division, USA. Supplementary readings: - Sharp PF, Gemmell HG, Murray AD (2005), Practical Nuclear Medicine. 3rd Ed. Springer. - Mettler FA and Guiberteau MJ (2012), Essentials of Nuclear Medicine Imaging: Expert Consult - Online and Print, 6th edition, Elsevier Health Sciences, London. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Please note that a pass in each assessment component is obligatory for an overall pass mark to be awarded. | ||||||||||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Placement and Independent Study | ||||||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Karen Borg Grima (Co-ord.) |
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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 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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