Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, and Radiation Therapy

A.Y. 2024/2025
1
Max ECTS
12
Overall hours
SSD
MED/36
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
1. To be familiar with the following topics: methods of measuring diagnostic performance; principles of radiation protection for patients and operators; physical and technical bases of radiological and nuclear imaging; indications and contraindications to imaging tests also considering cost-effectiveness; interventional radiology; interpretation of reports and communication to the patient; principles of radiobiology; radiotherapy techniques; notes on systematic radiotherapy.
2. To knowing how the prevalence of disease and, therefore, the selection of the requesting doctors, influences the reliability of radiological and nuclear reports.
3. To Know the principles of risk/benefit ratio in the use of ionizing radiation for diagnostic purposes.
4. To know the principles of image formation and be able to explain them to the patient (radiographic and radioscopic techniques, computed tomography, ultrasound, angiography, magnetic resonance imaging, planar and tomographic scintigraphy, positron emission tomography).
5. To know the general indications and contraindications to diagnostic imaging tests in order to define the sequential and synergistic use of imaging techniques.
6. To know the basic regulations on radiation protection of patients and operators in the diagnostic and therapeutic use of ionizing radiation, including the units of measurement used in this context.
7. To know the principles and indications that regulate the therapeutic use of ionizing radiation, with particular reference to the most frequent forms of cancer (breast, head and neck, uterus, bladder, lung).
8. To know the general principles and indications of metabolic radiotherapy.
Expected learning outcomes
1. To be able to understand the meaning of diagnostic performance measures.
2. To be able to apply the principles of radiation protection to patients, health professionals, family members and caregivers.
3. To be able to communicate to patients and family members and caregivers the technical principles of diagnostic investigations, the diagnostic content of the reports and the recommended therapies.
4. To be able to communicate to patients and family members and caregivers the technical principles of interventional radiology and radiotherapy procedures, including metabolic radiotherapy.
5. To be able to explain indications and contraindications to diagnostic imaging tests, major interventional radiology procedures and radiotherapy, including metabolic radiotherapy.
5. To be able, by evaluating one or more images of an investigation, to recognize with which technique they have been obtained and to which body region they refer, recognizing the anatomical elements, describing possible pathological findings and providing diagnostic hypotheses.
Single course

This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.

Course syllabus and organization

Linea Policlinico

Course syllabus
Radiology:
- Physical bases of x-ray
- Physical bases of x-ray of computed tomography (CT)
- Physical bases of magnetic resonance (MR)
- Physical bases of ultrasound (US)
- Contrast media (indication and contraindication)
- Clinical indication of radiology techniques
- Interventional radiology, biopsy, endovascular treatment
- Images interpretation and case discussions
Radiotherapy:
- Physical and biological bases of radiotherapy (radiobiology, radiosensibility)
- Role of radiotherapy in the multidisciplinary approach in oncology
- Indication to radiotherapy
- Work-flow in radiotherapy (visit, planification, follow-up)
- Radiotherapy technique and fraction therapy
- Prevention and management of collateral effects
- Radiotherapy in the big killers: lung, breast, prostatic ang gastrointestinal cancer
Nuclear Medicine
- Physical and technical bases of digital image formation for planar and tomographic scintigraphy and positron emission tomography (PET).
- Radiopharmaceuticals and their clinical use
- Specific aspects of radiation protection in a nuclear medicine environment.
- Applications of conventional Nuclear Medicine (endocrine diseases, musculoskeletal system, infectious diseases, renal function study); nuclear cardiology; PET in oncology and its applications in neurology
- Nuclear Medicine therapy techniques
Prerequisites for admission
- Human anatomy
- Medical physics
- Pathology
Teaching methods
- Lectures regarding the course program
- Dedicated space at the end of the lectures to difficult part of the program or to student query
- Student group presentations regarding specific topic based on literature review
Teaching Resources
- Diagnostica per Immagini e Radioterapia Cittadini, Cittadini, Sardanelli Ecig , Edizione 2015
- Manuale di Diagnostica per Immagini Torricelli, Mignani, Zompatori Società Editrice Esculapio 2016
- Radioterapia oncologica. Nuove strategie. Antonio Delfino Editore 2023. Ed: Vittorio Donato, Sara Ramella, Vincenzo Tombolini, Vincenzo Valentini. ISBN 9788872876916
Assessment methods and Criteria
- Oral exam with questions related to the course program
- Three oral discussions for each module (radiology, nuclear medicine, radiotherapy)
MED/36 - IMAGING AND RADIOTHERAPY - University credits: 1
Lessons: 8 hours
: 4 hours
Shifts:
Turno
Professor: Carrafiello Gianpaolo

Linea San Donato

MED/36 - IMAGING AND RADIOTHERAPY - University credits: 1
Lessons: 8 hours
: 4 hours
Professor: Secchi Francesco
Shifts:
Turno
Professor: Secchi Francesco

Linea San Giuseppe

MED/36 - IMAGING AND RADIOTHERAPY - University credits: 1
Lessons: 8 hours
: 4 hours