58180 - Radiographic and Tomographic Standard Veterinary Anatomy

Learning outcomes

Goal of the course is to provide the basic information related to the principal techniques of diagnostic imaging in small and large animals. Besides the necessary information concerning the theoretical aspects of radiology, computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound (US), the course has the objective to make the students able to distinguish the normal patterns of the different anatomic regions when represented under different techniques of imaging.

Course contents

The course is divided in two parts: the first part (more or less one third of the frontal lectures) is dedicated to the study of the basic theoretical principles of radiology and ultrasound. In details, these lectures have the goal to describe and discuss the generation of X-ray, the characteristics of the X-ray, the mechanisms of formation of the image, the structure of a radiographic instrument and of the development processes, the aspects related to radioprotection,  the functioning of a CT scan machine, the generation of ultrasounds and their interaction with the matter, the instrument for US examination, the most common artefacts in these techniques.The second part (more or less two third of the frontal lectures) is dedicated to the explanation, description and discussion of the normal appearance of the body systems in the different imaging techniques. These lectures are more practical and include the evaluation of plenty of images related to the different topics. Topics are:
- Radiographic anatomy  of the skeletal system, the abdomen and the thorax;
- Ultrasonographic anatomy of the abdomen;
- Tomographic anatomy of the skull and the spine;
Besides the frontal lectures, students have the possibility to do a supervised work in small groups (no more than 6-7 students each group) with a tutor. This work consists of examining radiograms, ultrasound videos and Ct scan images of normal part of the body of small and large animals. Tasks are the description of the characteristics of each part depicted, discussion related to the comparison of imaging with the normal anatomy, recognition of normal details in the whole picture (radiogram, CT image, US image). Practical work consists of contribution in doing an x-ray and US exam in an healthy animal, in order to have better understanding of the practical aspects of these techniques

Readings/Bibliography

Barone R., Anatomia Comparata dei Mammiferi domestici, Edagricole, Bologna: voll. I, II, III, IV, V.
 
D.E. Thrall Textbook of Veterinary Diagnostic Radiology - 5th Edition, Saunders Philadelphia , 2007.
 
Coulson A., Lewis N. An atlas of interpretative radiographic anatomy of the dog and cat – 2nd Edition, Blackwell Science, Oxford (2008)
 
Lectures notes and powerpoint presentation
CD  with images

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 (for example: the modalities of production of X-rays or teh modalities of teh formation of the ultrasound images)and to the description of the images related to the different part of the body acquired with the different techniques.
The practical lectures are held after the students are divided in small groups.
Each group stays in front of a diaphanoscope (or a computer) and is asked to recognize and describe the different images proposed. Interaction between students and with the tutor is strongly encouraged.
Aim of this part of the course is to reinforce the ability in the interpretation of the radio-tomographic and ulstrasound images. 

Assessment methods

Exam consist of a written part, related to the most theretical part of the course, and in an oral/practical part which includes the evaluation of the ability in the description and interpretation of the images related to the different imaging techniques. The first and the second part are held respectively in itinere and at the end of the course

Teaching tools

Frontal lectures are held in a lecture room provided with videoprojection and computer. During this kind of lectures videos and pictures are largely used.
Practical lectures are held in a room provided with 10 diaphanoscopes: in this way small group of students can interact in a better way each other and with the tutor.
Is also available a computed room in which each couple of students has a computer connected with the computer of the teacher. This room is used for interactive practical lectures

Links to further information

http://www.paginadocente.unibo.it

Office hours

See the website of Alessia Diana