Teaching code

4S01166

Credits

6

Coordinator

Giancarlo Mansueto

Language

Italian

Location

VERONA

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

MED/36 - IMAGING AND RADIOTHERAPY

Courses Single

Not Authorized

Moodle Seminars 0

The teaching is organized as follows:

Learning objectives

The course “Radiology and Imaging” is aimed to teach the contribution of the diagnostic imaging modalities, including Conventional Radiology, Ulltrasonography, Computed Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Nuclear Medicine, in the evaluation of the different organs and in the diagnosis of the main diseases. The basic notions of the interaction of the x-rays, ultrasound, radio waves with the normal and pathological biological tissues will be explained. The main clinical indications of the imaging modalities and the diagnostic approach to the study of the different organs will be illustrated.

Prerequisites and basic notions

Knowledge of human anatomy (topographic and systemic anatomy), physiology, and basic physics (interaction of radiation with matter, principles of waves and electromagnetism). Knowledge of the basic pathophysiology of the organ systems covered is useful.

Program

Part I — Physical principles of image formation
The alphabet of imaging modalities: how each diagnostic image is generated, and what it means.
The image as a medical act. From analogue to digital: signal, noise, and information.
Conventional radiology (X-ray): X-ray production, interaction with matter (Beer-Lambert law), digital detectors, exposure parameters.
Ultrasound: physics of ultrasound, acoustic impedance, probes, B-mode and Doppler (color, power, spectral), ultrasound contrast agents, artefacts.
Computed Tomography (CT): acquisition principle, Hounsfield units, windowing, multiplanar reconstructions, dose management.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): magnetization, T1 and T2 contrast, fundamental sequences, safety and contraindications.
Nuclear medicine and hybrid imaging: scintigraphy, PET/CT and PET/MRI; from morphological to functional and metabolic data.
Contrast agents: iodinated and gadolinium-based; pharmacokinetics, adverse reactions and their management, contrast-induced acute kidney injury.
Radiation protection and appropriateness: dosimetric quantities, deterministic and stochastic effects, ICRP principles, regulatory framework (Legislative Decree 101/2020), diagnostic reference levels; protection during pregnancy and in the paediatric population.
Part II — Organ systems: radiological semeiotics
For each organ system: choice of modality, elementary semeiotics of the most commonly encountered presentations and, where relevant, the extension of the diagnostic act into image-guided intervention (biopsies, drainages, embolizations, endovascular procedures), as an integral part of the pathway and not as a separate chapter.
Respiratory system and mediastinum: systematic reading of the chest X-ray; pneumonia, oedema, pleural effusion, pulmonary nodule; chest CT.
Cardiovascular system: cardiac CT and coronary CT, calcium score, overview of cardiac MRI; aortic disease; pulmonary embolism (from CT angiography to endovascular treatment).
Acute abdomen: plain abdominal X-ray, ultrasound and CT; obstruction, perforation, ischaemia, haemorrhage (from CT with extravasation to embolization); drainage of collections.
Liver, biliary tract and pancreas: characterization of focal liver lesions; obstructive jaundice; targeted biopsy and loco-regional therapies (chemoembolization, thermal ablation); percutaneous biliary drainage.
Urinary system: ultrasound and CT urography; renal colic, renal masses; nephrostomy and percutaneous procedures.
Musculoskeletal system: X-ray, CT and MRI; trauma and fractures, degenerative and inflammatory disease; bone biopsy and vertebroplasty.
Neuroradiology: CT and MRI of the brain; ischaemic stroke (from the CT window to mechanical thrombectomy) and haemorrhagic stroke; head trauma; spinal disease.
Breast imaging: mammography, ultrasound and MRI; the rationale of screening and the BI-RADS system; biopsy and image-guided localization.
Part III — Clinical radiology
Integration of the contents into clinical reasoning: the diagnostic pathway as a process, not as a sum of examinations.
Appropriateness and diagnostic pathways: from the clinical question to the reasoned choice of modality.
Imaging in oncology: staging and follow-up; the rationale of the structured report.
The diagnostic-therapeutic continuum: principles of image-guided intervention (access, image guidance, minimally invasive principle, consent and complications).
Discussion of integrated clinical cases: the diagnostic pathway in emergency and oncological settings.

Bibliography

Didactic methods

Lectures supported by iconography and real cases; guided image-reading sessions and discussion of integrated clinical cases; a guided visit to the Radiology department to observe the equipment and how examinations are performed. Teaching materials are made available on the university platform.

Learning assessment procedures

The examination is oral and consists of an interview with the student, with questions on physical principles, on the most commonly encountered clinical presentations, and on clinically relevant anatomy.

Evaluation criteria

Assessment considers the student's command of the course content, the ability to connect physical principles, clinical presentations, and related anatomy, and overall maturity in diagnostic reasoning, rather than rote memorization. Students who present without adequate preparation are asked to retake the examination after studying the topic properly. The interview also aims to foster an awareness of the importance of these competencies for future clinical practice.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

The final grade is expressed in thirtieths (Italian grading scale, /30) and derives from the outcome of the oral interview, which is the sole examination. The examination is passed with a minimum grade of 18/30.

Exam language

Italiano; su richiesta, l'esame può essere sostenuto in inglese.