35595 - Diagnostic, Imaging and Veterinary Radiology

Learning outcomes

Knowledge of the physical principles, technical aspects and clinical application of the ultrasound waves and of the alternative imaging technologies in medicine. In particular the students should be able to understand the image formation and the modes of echo display. Knowledge and the significance of the artifacts. To describe the basic interpretation paradigms for the normal structures of the small and large animals. The students will be able to read images and interpret the main abnormal echographic findings.

Course contents

This learning activity is part of the Integrated Course 35541 – Semeiotics, Internal Medicine, Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging. The training objectives of the integrated Course concern the coherent set of skills that include: theoretical knowledge of internal medicine and ability to recognize and detect clinical signs of diseases in pets and farm animals. These objectives are completed with the theoretical knowledge and ability to recognize the radiographic, tomographic and sonographic signs of pathologies of domestic animals.

The exam of the Integrated Course 35541 – Semeiotics, Internal Medicine, Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging  is recorded by Prof. Mario Cipone

This learning activity participates in the University's educational innovation project.

Basic principles of the ultrasound: wavelength, frequency and propagation velocity. Transducers. Scanner controls. Modes of echo display: A-mode, B-mode, M-mode, realtime B-mode. Interation of sound with tissues. Image orientation, interpretation and terminology. Doppler: physical principles, pulsed, continuous, color and power Doppler. Interpretation of the Doppler spectral display. Artifacts: identification and knowledge of the formation mechanism. Ultrasound guided biopsy. Clinical application of ultrasound in small and large animals. The abdomen: liver, spleen, stomach and duodenum, pancreas, small intestines and colon, kidneys, adrenal glands, urinary bladder, prostate, uterus and ovaries, abdominal lymph nodes, abdominal vessels. The neck: main vessels, thyroid gland, lymph nodes, salivary glands. The torax: mediastinum and diaphragm, pleural structures and pulmonary diseases. The heart: echocardiography, normal examination. The main echocardiographic M-mode and B-mode measurements. The evaluation of cardiac function.

Review of properties of x-rays. The basic concept of making a radiograph. Scatter radiation and grids. Image receptors: the cassette, intensifying screens, x-ray films. Film identification. Film processing. Contrast media. Iodine and barium preparations. Negative-contrast agents. Hazards of ionizing radiation and practical application of radiation safety. Radiographic positioning for small and large animals. Visual perception and radiographic interpretation. Thorax of companion animals and of equidae. The larynx and trachea. The esophagus. The thoracic wall. The diaphragm. The mediastinum. The pleural space. The heart and great vessels. The pulmonary vasculature. The lung. Abdomen of companion animals. The peritoneal space. The liver and spleen. The kidneys and urinary bladder. The prostate and uterus. The stomach, small and large bowel. Contrast studies of gastrointestinal and urinary system.

Reminders on the appropriate terminology regarding the radiographic projections in orthopedic of the small and large animals. Radiographic appearance of the normal long bone : epiphysis, diaphysis, growth plate, metaphysis, cortex, medullary cavity, trabecular bone and subchondral bone, periosteum, nutrient foramen, vascular channels. Position/distribution of the lesion, radiopacity, margins delineation, type of osteolysis, type of periosteal reaction, involvement of the adjacent soft tissues, evolution of the lesion, criteria of aggressivity, fractures, fractures healing, healing complications. Osteomyelitis, sequester, hypertrophic osteodystrophy, bone neoplasms, hypertrophic osteopathy. Radiographic appearance of the joint, cartilage, capsule, ligament and meniscus, fat pad, joint space, sesamoid bones. Radiographic appearance of the principal joint diseases. Osteoarthrosis, arthritis, osteochondrosis, dysplasia, luxation/subluxation, joint neoplasms.

List of the limiting factors encountered in radiography of exotic animals. Description of the standard radiographic projections of the small mammals, birds and reptiles. Main anatomic characteristics of the rabbit, furet, birds and reptiles. Identification of the most common pathologies in exotics.Basic physical principles of computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear medicine and their indications.

Readings/Bibliography

Atlas of small animal ultrasonography

Dominique Penninck e Marc-André d'Anjou

Blackwell Publishing Ed. - Ames Iowa USA 2015

Textbook of Veterinary Diagnostic Radiology.

Thrall D.E.:

W.B. Saunders. Philadelphia. VI° Ed. 2013

Teaching methods

Lectures using app. Poll Everywhere; clinical cases and US laboratories; Moodle Platform.

Assessment methods

Exam consist of a multiple-choice question test performed on the e-learning platform IOS in a classroom with a 20 computer stations and a maximum number of 20 students. Two clinical cases are also available for review and the student is expected to write a complete radiographic or ultrasonographic reports, including the description of the imaging signs, a radiographic or ultrasonographic assessment and differential diagnosis. Emphasis is made on the description of the radiographic and ultrasonographic findings. If the student fails describing and recognizing the main imaging findings, failure of the entire test may be considered.

The evaluation of the exam is expressed with a marks out of thirty. The test is passed with a score of at least 18/30. In the case of maximum marks (30/30), honors can be attributed. The student has the right to refuse the verbalization of the positive grade proposed at least once.

The examination can be repeated after twenty days.

Teaching tools

Clinical cases recorded on database system Fenice.

Office hours

See the website of Mario Cipone

See the website of Alessia Diana

See the website of Edoardo Auriemma