Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging

- To know the nature, production and properties of X-rays. To know the risks associated with the use of ionizing radiation and the protection standards.
- To achieve knowledge and skills necessary to perform radiodiagnosis in veterinary medicine.
- To provide the students with the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to use ultrasonography in veterinary practice.
- To know the principles of advanced diagnostic imaging techniques (Computed Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Scintigraphy).
- To know the application of ionizing radiation for treatments in veterinary medicine (Radiotherapy, Nuclear Medicine).
- To know diagnostic imaging protocols and the usefulness of combining different diagnostic imaging techniques.

A.- LECTURES

PART I: DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING TECHNIQUES. PHYSICAL PRINCIPLES, EQUIPMENT, GENERAL TECHNIQUES

SECTION 1: RADIOLOGY - 3 hours -

- IONIZING RADIATION. Nature, production, and properties of ionizing radiation.

- FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT. X-ray room. X-ray equipment and materials.

- OBTAINING AND INTERPRETATION OF THE RADIOLOGICAL IMAGE. Exposure factors. Radiographic quality. Contrast media.

- RADIOBIOLOGY AND RADIATION PROTECTION. Biological effects of ionizing radiation. Radioprotection. Legislation.

SECTION 2: ULTRASONOGRAPHY - 3 hours –

- PHYSIC PRINCIPLES, EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS USED IN ULTRASONOGRAPHY. IMAGE MODES.

- INTERPRETATION AND CONTROL OF THE ULTRASOUND IMAGE. COMMON TERMINOLOGY.

- ARTIFACTS.

- GENERAL TECHNIQUES. Protocol for abdominal and cardiac examination. Principles for another anatomical regions.

SECTION 3: OTHER PHYSICAL MEANS IN DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING - 3 hours -

- COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY.

- MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING.

- NUCLEAR MEDICINE. Diagnostic and treatment options.


PART II: DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING OF THE THORAX (6 h).

SECTION 1: SMALL ANIMAL THORAX - 5 hours -

- THORACIC RADIOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUES. CHEST WALL AND DIAPHRAGM. General radiographic anatomy.

- MEDIASTINUM AND PLEURAL SPACE. Presence of gas, fluid and masses in the mediastinum and pleural space. ESOPHAGUS. AND TRACHEA. Main pathologies.

- LUNG. Pulmonary patterns. HEART AND GREAT VESSELS. Congenital and acquired lesions.

- NON CARDIAC THORACIC ULTRASOUND. Protocol, normal and pathologic findings.

SECTION 2: LARGE ANIMAL - 1 hour -

- THORACIC RADIOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUES. General radiographic anatomy and main pathologies.

- NON CARDIAC THORACIC ULTRASOUND.


PART III: DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING OF THE ABDOMEN (12 h).

SECTION 1: SMALL ANIMAL ABDOMEN - 11 hours -

- RADIOGRAPHIC AND ULTRASONOGRAPHIC ANATOMY. Exploration protocol.

- LIVER AND BILIARY SYSTEM. Exploration techniques and main pathologies.

- SPLEEN. Exploration techniques and main pathologies.

- GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT. Gastrointestinal transit. Radiographic diagnosis.

- PANCREAS. Exploration techniques and main pathologies.

- ADRENAL GLANDS. Exploration techniques and main pathologies.

- URINARY SYSTEM (KIDNEYS, URETERS, URINARY BLADDER AND URETHRA). Exploration techniques and main pathologies.

- REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM (male and female). Exploration techniques and main pathologies.

- LYMPH NODES. PERITONEAL CAVITY. Exploration techniques and main pathologies.


SECTION 2: EQUINE - 1 hour -

- ULTRASONOGRAPHIC ANATOMY. Exploration protocol. Main pathologies.


PART IV: DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING OF THE MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM (7 h).

SECTION 1: SMALL ANIMAL - 3 hours -

- APPENDICULAR AND AXIAL SKELETON. Radiographic techniques. Bone lesions. Immature skeletal abnormalities. Joint radiology.

SECTION 2: LARGE ANIMAL - 3 hour -

- APPENDICULAR AND AXIAL SKELETON. Radiographic techniques. Bone lesions. Immature skeletal abnormalities. Joint radiology.

SECTION 3: MUSCULOSKELETAL ULTRASOUND – 1 hour -

- EQUIPMENT AND TECHNIQUE. Ultrasonographic anatomy. Main pathologies.



PART V: RADIATION THERAPY - 1 hour.

- RADIOTHERAPY. Physical principles and technical considerations. Equipment. Radiotherapy in small and large animals.



B.- PRACTICAL SESSIONS

1. DPIC1 (10 hours): Film reading. Learn how to run a DICOM viewer and how to approach the interpretation of different body parts when evaluating an image test. Veterinary Teaching Hospital “Rof Codina” (VTH-RC).

2. DPIC2 (10 hours): Small animal clinical activity in the Diagnostic Imaging Service of the VTH-RC.

3. DPIC3 (5 hours): Equine clinical activity in the Large Animal Service of the VTH-RC.

4. DPIC4 (5 hours): Ultrasound practical session in the Diagnostic Imaging Service of the VTH-RC.

C.- TUTORIALS
Tutorials: 5 hours per student - see Teaching methodology - (DPI T1-5 G1-10)

Basic literature

AGUT GIMÉNEZ A. Diagnóstico por imagen en pequeños animales. Multimédica Ediciones Veterinarias. Barcelona. 2014.

BARR F, GASCHEN L. BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Ultrasonography. British Small Animal Veterinary Association. 2011.

BUTLER JA, COLLES ChM, DYSON SJ, KOLD SE, POULOS PW. Clinical Radiology of the Horse, 4ª edition, Wiley Blackwell. 2016.

COULSON A, LEWIS N. An Atlas of Interpretative Radiographic Anatomy of the Dog and Cat. 2th. Edition. Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. Oxford. 2008.

DENNIS R, KIRBERGER RM, BARR F, WRIGLEY RH. Handbook of Small Animal Radiology and Ultrasound. Techniques and Differential Diagnoses. 2th edition. Saunders Elsevier. 2010.

KIDD JA, LU KG, FRAZER ML. Atlas of Equine Ultrasonography. Wiley Blackwell. 2022.

MATTOON JS, NYLAND TG. Diagnóstico Ecográfico en Pequeños Animales. 3ª Ed. Multimédica Ediciones Veterinarias. Barcelona. 2016.

PENNINCK D, D'ANJOU MA. Atlas de ecografía en pequeños animales. Segunda edición. Multimédica. Sant Cugat del Vallés. Barcelona. 2017.

SCHEBITZ H, WILKENS H. Atlas of Radiographic Anatomy of the Horse. 4th. Edition. Parey Verlag. 2008.

THRALL DE. Textbook of Veterinary Diagnostic Radiology. 7th Ed. W. B. Saunders Elsevier. Philadelphia. 2018.

Complementary bibliography

BUSHBERG JT, SEIBERT JA, LEIDHOLD EM, BOONE JM. The Essentials Physics of Medical Imaging. 3th. Edition. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. 2020.

DANIEL GB, BERRY CR. Textbook of Veterinary Nuclear Medicine. American College of Veterinary Medicine. 2006.

DYSON SJ, PILSWORTH RC, TWARDOCK AR, MARTINELLI MJ. Equine Scintigraphy. Equine Veterinary Journal Ltd. 2003.

MAI W. Diagnostic MRI in dogs and cats. CRC PRess. 2018.

KIRBERGER RM, McEBOY F. BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Musculoskeletal Imaging. 2th. Edition. British Small Animal Veterinary Association. 2016.

NOVELLAS TORROJA R, DOMÍNGUEZ MIÑO E, ESPADA GERLACH Y, MARTÍNEZ PEREIRA Y, TOBÓN RESTREPO M. Diagnóstico ecográfico en el gato. Editorial Servet. 2016.

O`BRIEN R, BARR FJ. BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Abdominal Imaging. British Small Animal Veterinary Association. 2009.

SCHWARZ T, JOHNSON V. BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Thoracic Imaging. British Small Animal Veterinary Association. 2008.

SCHWARZ T, SAUNDERS J. Veterinary Computed Tomography. Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. Oxford. 2011.

WISNER E, ZWINGENBERGER A. Atlas of Small Animal CT and MRI. Wiley Blackwell. 2015.

WEB Pages:

- American College of Veterinary Radiology (http://www.acvr.org/).

- European Association of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging (http://www.eavdi.org/).

- Veterinary Radiology and Ultrasound (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1740-8261).

- Equine Veterinary Journal/ EVEducation (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1001/(ISSN)2042-3306).

We recommend the use of both basic and complementary internet resources specified in the Bibliography section, as well as the electronic access bibliography available in the USC Library “reBUSCa” (https://rebusca.usc.gal/inicio). Also, through Pórtico (https://sfx.bugalicia.org/san/journalsearch) managed by BUGalicia, you can search for scientific journals and electronic books (with the USC credentials).

General Competences:
GVUSC01. Ability to learn and adapt.
GVUSC02. Capability for analysis and synthesis.
GVUSC03. General knowledge of the working area.
GVUSC04. Planning and work management.
GVUSC05. Capability to put knowledge into practice.
GVUSC06. Capability to work both independently and as part of a team.
GVUSC09. Capability to communicate in different areas.
GVUSC10. Ethical commitment and undertaking of responsibilities.

Disciplinary Specific Competences:

CEDVUSC 07. Knowledge of the changes in the structure and function of the animal organism.
CEDVUSC 08. Knowledge and diagnosis of the various animal diseases, both individual and collective, and its prevention measures with special emphasis on zoonoses and notifiable diseases.
CEDVUSC17. Knowledge of the biological effects of ionizing radiation and radioprotection measures.

Specific Professional Competences:

D1VUSC 04. Diagnose common diseases using complementary protocols and diagnostic techniques.
D1VUSC 17. Perform technical reports specific to veterinary competencies.
D1VUSC 18. Apply knowledge of radiation protection in those diagnostic procedures that require the use of ionizing radiation.

Specific Academic Competences:

CEAVUSC 01. Analyze, synthesize and solve problems and make decisions within the scope of the Veterinary profession.
CEAVUSC 02. Be aware of the ethical responsibilities of the veterinary profession in relation to the society.
CEAVUSC 03. Disclose information obtained during the Veterinary professional practice in a easy oral and written way, with other colleagues, authorities and society in general.
CEAVUSC 04. Search and manage information related to veterinary practice. CEAVUSC 05. Know and apply the scientific method in professional practice,
including evidence-based medicine.
CEAVUSC 06. Knowing how to find professional help and advice.
CEAVUSC 08. Being aware of the need to keep professional skills and knowledge up-to-date through a process of lifelong learning.

Transversal Competences:

CTVUSC 01. Capacity for reasoning and argument.
CTVUSC 02. Ability to obtain adequate, diverse and updated information by various means such as literature and Internet information, and critically analyze it.
CTVUSC 03. Ability to develop and present an organized and understandable text.
CTVUSC 04. Ability to make a clear, concise, and consistent public presentation
CTVUSC 06. Use information in a foreign language.
CTVUSC 07. Ability to solve problems through the Integration and application of knowledge.

A.- LECTURES

Lectures: 35 lectures of 50 minutes, with the systematic use of the Virtual Campus as support teaching (see Lectures in “Contents”, and the official calendar).

B.- PRACTICAL SESSIONS

Practical sessions in the Diagnostic Imaging Service of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital Rof Codina (see the official calendar), 30 hours per student with the following activities:

• DPIC1- 10 hours - Film reading and use of a free DICOM viewer (the international medical imaging format). We select some thoracic, abdominal and musculoskeletal x-rays films for the students to learn radiographic anatomy and, in pathological cases, to evaluate the radiographic signs and possible differential diagnoses. Students will make a complete radiology report that will be evaluated as a LEARNING GOAL/ OBJECTIVE (Day-1 Skill 1.7). These reports have to be uploaded to the Virtual Campus before the end of the lectures.

• DPIC2- 10 hours- Clinical rotation in small animal imaging. In the Diagnostic Imaging Service of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital Rof Codina, the students become familiar with the installation, the equipment and the material necessary for the X-ray, ultrasound and other advanced techniques (CT and MRI) explorations. They learn how to manage patients that come to the Service and also how to relate with the pet's owners. In the radiographic exploration the students apply the radiation protection procedures, perform the positioning, estimate the parameters for exposition and interpret the obtained images. Students follow up the daily ultrasound routine in the Diagnostic Imaging Service, and they help to perform CT and MRI.

• DPIC3- 5 hours- Clinical rotation in equine imaging. Basic radiographic and ultrasound exploration in horses. – 5 hours -. Under the professor supervision the students will participate in the equine clinical practice where imaging could be required, .

• DPIC4- 5 hours- Ultrasound exploration of the abdomen in the Diagnostic Imaging Service of the VTH-RC. For the students to acquire skills handling the equipment for the ultrasound exploration, a general abdomen exploratory protocol will be established and will be performed by every student under the supervision of the professor.


C.- TUTORIALS:

Tutorials: 5 hours per student (see the official calendar). During the first session (first day of class) students will be informed about the features and the program of the subject. In the next four sessions, a subject follow-up will be performed, students will solve their doubts and professors will evaluate the evolution of each student through quizzes. Tutoring will be face-to-face in the classroom.

Student assessment will be based on CONTINUOUS EVALUATION and also on a FINAL EXAM. The FINAL GRADE will be based on the continuous evaluation (5/10 points) and the final exam (5/10 points).

1. For the CONTINUOUS EVALUATION (5/10 points), grade based on four short exams, (4/5 points, 1 per exam); will be summed to grade due to interactive sessions (1/5 points).
a. For the four short exams, 20 true/false and/or multiple-choice questions, will be performed during tutorial sessions. In the true/false modality questions made in the tutorials using the tools of the VIRTUAL CLASSROOM/ CAMPUS, the correct answers add up and the wrong ones deduct the same amount. In multiple-choice questions, which will have one or more correct answers, the sum of all the correct answers will equal the full value of the question, and in the case of not marking them all will add the corresponding percentage; The same will happen with the wrong answers, but in the negative way. The short tests make up a single evaluation, adding the four grades obtained to calculate the final grade.
b. In the interactive sessions the student’s attitude and skills (integration in the group, degree of participation, work dynamics, preparation of reports…) will be valued, as well as the imaging report/s based on clinical cases supplied by the teaching team, that have to be uploaded to the Vitual Campus. This will be a DAY 1 SKILL- LEARNING OBJECTIVE/ GOAL, and the result will be SUITABLE/ NON SUITABLE. It is imperative to get a SUITABLE qualification in this aspect to pass the subject (SUMATIVE ASSESSMENT). In case of NON SUITABLE qualification, the student must check the report/s with the teacher in charge, and has the chance to upload a new version before the final exam (1st or 2nd opportunity).

Completing the four continuous assessment tests and attending all the interactive sessions is mandatory in order to pass this subject. Repeating students may voluntarily validate the interactive sessions (practical classes) with those carried out only in the previous year, and it is mandatory that they communicate this in advance at the start of these. The grade obtained in the short evaluation tests carried out in the tutorials (four short tests) is not saved in any case for successive years.

2. In the FINAL EXAM (5/10 points), which will be carried out using the tools of the VIRTUAL CLASSROOM/ CAMPUS, will consist of an test exam with 60 questions of true/ false (T/F) and/or multiple-choice type questions. In this exam, the assessment criteria for the T/F or multiple-choice questions will be the same as that applied in the short exams for the continuous evaluation. To pass the subject it will be mandatory to pass the FINAL EXAM, therefore, it will be necessary to obtain 2,5 or more points.

For all those students who have not passed the subject at the first opportunity, the grade obtained in the continuous evaluation will be maintained for the second opportunity, and only the final exam must be repeated, which will have the same characteristics and assessment criteria as the one carried out at the first opportunity.

For this subject, the possibility of dispensing attendance to lectures is contemplated, but not to practical sessions or tutorials. The evaluation criteria that will be applied to those students with an official exemption for attending to lectures does not differ from the general criteria described in this section, which will be applicable to all students.

In case of plagiarism, fraud or improper use of technologies for the realization of the tests, the provisions of the “Normativa de avaliación do rendemento académico dos estudantes e de revisión de cualificacións” will apply.

Student attendance: 70 hours
Lectures: 35 h
Practical sessions: 30 h
Tutorials: 5 h

Individual work: 80 hours
Personal study: 45 h
Literature consulting:15 h
Clinical cases:15 h
Oral presentations: 2 h
Final exam: 3 h

Total work: 150 hours

Student should actively participate in lectures, practical sessions and tutorials. It is advisable to regularly consult the recommended texts and related web pages.

A USC virtual resource “Campus virtual” is available to support teaching. Students should make use of this on-line resource “Aula virtual of the subject Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging”, for reading contents and to participate in the forums.

According to USC integration protocols concerning people diversity, professors of this subject will guarantee integration and equal opportunities to all students with special educational needs.

To carry out the FILM READING PRACTICAL SESSIONS (DPIC1), the ASSESSMENT TESTS and the FINAL EXAM of the subject, it will be necessary to have a computer or tablet with internet access, which allows you to connect to the VIRTUAL CAMPUS and access the corresponding test in the classroom.