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 participates in the University's educational innovation project.

ULTRASOUND

Basic principles of the ultrasound. Transducers. Scanner controls. Image orientation, interpretation and terminology. Doppler: physical principles, pulsed, continuous, color and power Doppler. Artifacts: identification and knowledge of the formation mechanism. 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.

RADIOLOGY

Review of properties of x-rays. The basic concept of making a radiograph. Film identification and processing. Contrast media. 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.

Radiographic projections in orthopedic of the small and large animals. Radiographic appearance of the normal long bone. 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.

 

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE

Basic physical principles of computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and their indications.

Readings/Bibliography

D.E. Thrall Textbook of Veterinary Diagnostic Radiology - 5th Edition, Saunders Philadelphia , 2018.

Penninck D e d'Anjou MA, Atlas of small animal ultrasonography - 2nd Edition, Blackwell Science, Ames Iowa USA 2015.

Schwarz T MA, Saunders J Veterinary Computed Tomography, Wiley & Blackwell, 2011.

Zwingenberger E e Wisner E Atlas of Small Animal CT and MRI Wiley and Sons, 2015.

Lectures notes and powerpoint presentation.

Teaching methods

The course is made of frontal (thoretical) and practical/interactive lectures.
Frontal lectures are dedicated to the explanation of the most theoretical parts of the course and to the description of the main  pathological patterns of  in the various diagnostic imaging techniques.

 

The practical part is carried out in the computer lab by dividing the students into small groups. Different clinical cases of diagnostic imaging are assigned to each group: the students must interpret, comment radiogra-tomographic and ultrasonographic studies among themselves and with the teacher and formulate a written report. Aim of this part of the course is to reinforce the ability in the interpretation of the radio-tomographic and ultrasonographic different images.

Assessment methods

Exam consist of a multiple-choice question test performed on the e-learning platform 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 radio-tomographic 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.

Teaching tools

Clinical cases recorded on database system Fenice.

PACS archive of the Diagnostic Imaging Service of DIMEVET with specific software for image analysis in DICOM format.

Office hours

See the website of Alessia Diana

See the website of Edoardo Auriemma