Course overview
The aim of this course is to prepare students for clinical experience in Computed The aim of this course is tomography (CT) and Positron Emission The aim of this course is tomography (PET)/Computed The aim of this course is tomography (PET/CT) hybrid imaging. It will also provide a broad knowledge base of advanced CT procedures. Physical principles of CT, PET and PET/CT and their application to medical diagnosis and treatment; instrumentation; generations of scanners; Helical/spiral CT systems; multislice scanners; imaging/scanning parameters; patient positioning; examination preparation; contrast media; image reconstruction; image quality; artefacts; quality assurance procedures; image evaluation; image interpretation; anatomy recognition in multiple planes; pathology; image manipulation; patient and staff safety issues; biological effects; patient care including risk factors; radiation safety; dosimetry; interpersonal communication, responding empathically, nursing skills/patient interactions; hybrid imaging; image co-registration; image fusion; attenuation correction; clinical applications of co-registration and image fusion; quality assurance and control; protocols of contemporary practice; advanced current CT procedures; radioisotopes, biodistribution of radiopharmaceuticals, paediatric considerations; radiation therapy simulation and planning; professionalism; ethics; legalities.
Course learning outcomes
- Apply knowledge previously acquired in medical radiation science and demonstrate a knowledge of the principles, instrumentation, clinical applications, imaging protocols; data acquisition and image evaluation of CT and PET/CT hybrid systems for current routine and advanced procedures.
- Interpret and evaluate CT, PET and PET/CT images, in terms of anatomy, physiology and pathology and linking these findings with the procedural protocol required to produce such images.
- Demonstrate a knowledge of the principles of image co-registration, image fusion, attenuation correction and the application to diagnosis and treatment.
- Demonstrate image manipulation of CT and PET images in applied procedures.
- Demonstrate a knowledge of quality assurance procedures relating to CT.