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Medical Student Electives - Diagnostic Radiology
Rotation Director: Mathew Chakko, M.D.
Duration: Two to four weeks
Maximum number of students per four-week period: Four
Candidates: Senior students of approved allopathic and osteopathic medical schools
Introduction:
The radiology rotation is offered as an introduction to the role of diagnostic imaging in the provision of patient care. Dramatic advances in imaging technology in the past 30 years have created a pivotal role for radiology in both the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Since all branches of medicine to some degree rely on diagnostic imaging, it is valuable for the medical student to understand the fundamentals of imaging, including indications for various examinations, the strength and weaknesses of various imaging modalities and the appropriate use of imaging in various clinical situations.
Goals and Objectives:
The primary goal is to provide the medical student with a basic familiarity of the production and interpretation of diagnostic images. The emphasis will be on the modalities most commonly used in everyday clinical practice. These include plain radiographs, fluoroscopy, CT scans, ultrasound, MRI and image-guided procedures and angiography.
- Plain radiographs - to understand the technical aspects of obtaining plain radiographs and the basics of interpretation, with emphasis on the most commonly ordered studies, i.e. chest x-rays, abdomen films and bone radiographs
- Fluoscoscopy - to observe fluoroscopy and understand the indications for, and technical factors involved, with obtaining common fluoroscopic studies, i.e. barium enema, UGI and small bowel studies, etc.
- Body/Thoracic Imaging - to understand the fundamentals of obtaining CT images and gain an understanding of the appropriate indications for various studies
- Ultrasound - to observe how ultrasound images are obtained and become familiar with the strength and limitations of ultrasound in diverse clinical settings
- MRI - to understand the basic physical principles of MRI and the indications for various studies
- Angiography - to observe various angiographic procedures and understand the indications for various examinations along with the risks inherent in various procedures
