Radiological Semiotics

Code:

M314

Acronym:

SR

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Medicine

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S (of 16-09-2024 to 10-01-2025)

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Medical Teaching
Course/CS Responsible:	Integrated Masters Degree in Medicine

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIM	179	Official Study Plan	3	-	3	28	81

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Knowledge of the theoretical foundations of techniques currently used in the imaging of patients: conventional radiology, computed tomography, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, scintigraphy, SPECT and PET.

Familiarization with the radiological environment, namely with radiological protection and different devices.

Clinical indications for the several diagnostic and therapeutic techniques.

Integration of the study means and clinical information.

Diagnostic capacity of emergency situations.

Diagnostic capability guided by reporting in non-urgent basic situations.

Learning outcomes and competences

Achievement of the Objectives defined for the Curricular Unit

Working method

Presencial

Program

Theoretical classes
1 - Imaging techniques with ionizing radiation and radioprotection
Conventional radiography, Angiography, CT, Nuclear Medicine
X-ray production and interaction with matter

2 - Image recording systems; PACS
Imaging techniques with non-ionizing energy Ultrasound and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (part 1)

3 – Principles of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance - part 2

4 - Pleuropulmonary and cardiac radiological semiology I
- Systematic evaluation of chest radiography and main radiographic signs (eg silhouette sign; air bronchogram); evaluation of the cardio-thoracic index on CXR
- Indications for chest CT: high resolution CT; angioTC; staging of thoracic tumors
- Pulmonary nodule approach

5 - Pleuropulmonary and cardiac radiological semiology II
- Semiology of pulmonary / thoracic opacities:
- Consolidations
- Atelectasis
- Lung effusions
- Semiology of the main vascular diseases of the chest:
- Venous and pulmonary thromboembolism
- Atherosclerosis of the aorta and coronary arteries
- Acute aortic syndrome: aneurysm and aortic dissection

6 - Discussion of cases of brain tumors. Brief introduction to the fundamentals of imaging changes (blood-brain barrier rupture, perfusion and diffusion changes; notion of pseudopression and pseudoresponse)

7 - Abdominal and gastrointestinal radiological semiology I
- Basic understanding of the main imaging techniques in the evaluation of the abdomen and digestive system, and main indications for their accomplishment: radiography (simple and contrast), ultrasound, CT, MRI.
- Radiological semiology of diseases of the digestive tract
Gastroesophageal reflux and hiatal hernia
Diverticular Colon Disease
Major digestive tract neoplasms: esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, colon and rectal cancer

8 - Abdominal and gastrointestinal radiological semiology
- acute abdomen approach and main differential diagnoses (eg intestinal occlusion, hollow viscera perforation, acute cholecystitis, acute pancreatitis, acute appendicitis, acute diverticulitis, mesenteric ischemia).
- Imaging semiology of major tumors of the liver, biliary tract and pancreas

9 - Radiological Semiology of the Urinary System
- Basic understanding of the main imaging techniques in the evaluation of the genitourinary tract and main indications for its accomplishment: radiography (simple and contrast), ultrasound, CT, MRI.
- Imaging evaluation of the main genitourinary complaints (renal colic, hematuria) and most common pathologies: renal lithiasis, renal or urothelial neoplasms, urinary tract infections.
- Acute kidney injury versus chronic kidney disease

10 - Degenerative and traumatic pathology of the spine
Approach to the patient with cervical pain, back pain and low back pain.
Spondyloarthropathies and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Osteoporosis
Investigation of traumatized vertebro-spinal cord; fracture classification.

11 - Radiological semiology of the musculoskeletal system
- Basic understanding of the main imaging techniques in the evaluation of the musculoskeletal system, and main indications for its accomplishment: radiography, ultrasound, CT, MRI
- radiological semiology of bone fractures
- radiological semiology of arthrosis and major inflammatory arthritis (eg rheumatoid arthritis)

12 - Radiological Semiology of Breast and Thyroid
 - Basic understanding of the main imaging techniques in the breast evaluation and main indications for its performance: mammography, tomosynthesis, ultrasound, MRI.
- Breast cancer screening programs and BIRADS classification
- thyroid nodule approach

13 - Pediatric Neuroradiology
Perinatal brain injuries; indications and semiology of transfontanellar ultrasound; further imaging evaluation by more differentiated techniques.
Imaging findings in meningitis and meningoencephalitis

14 - Neurodegenerative and cognitive pathology
Imaging Semiology of Alzheimer's Disease, Vascular Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia, Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson's Disease; Alcoholism.
Indications and imaging radiological semiology of changes in behavior and state of consciousness.

Practical classes

Radiology Module:

 

Class # 1: Presentation of objectives and organization of practical classes; Pleuro-pulmonary and cardiac radiology:

Systematic evaluation of chest radiography

Examples of consolidations and atelectasis

Class # 2: Pleuropulmonary and Cardiac Radiological Semiology:

- Examples of:

- Pneumothorax

- Pleural effusion

- Cardiomegaly

- Pulmonary thromboembolism

- Pulmonary neoplasia

- Lung Metastases

- Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Class # 3: Radiological Semiology of the genitourinary tract:

- Indication, advantages and disadvantages of imaging techniques: RX, ultrasound and CT.

- Recognize dilation of excretory systems in different imaging techniques

Examples of Renal Lithiasis, Renal Tumor, Urothelium Tumor, Genitourinary Tract Infections

Class # 4: Radiological Semiology of the Abdomen and Digestive System

Examples of:

Gastrointestinal occlusion and hollow viscera perforation

Diverticulitis

Acute appendicitis

Inflammatory bowel disease

Colon and rectal neoplasia

Bile duct dilation

Class # 5: Radiological Semiology of the musculoskeletal system:

Degenerative Arthritis (Arthrosis) versus Inflammatory Arthritis

Examples of bone fractures on radiography and CT; ex: green branch fracture in the child; costal fractures; Colles fracture; pathological fracture

Lesson # 6: Reviews: GU, GI and abdomen chest cases, MSK

Class # 7: Presentaion of clinical cases by students

 

Neuroradiology and Nuclear Medicine Module:

 

Class # 1: Presentation of the objectives and organization of the practical classes.

                Presentation of imaging techniques for brain and brain research.

                Observation of equipment.

                Enhancement of densitometric changes in brain images

                Presentation of Nuclear Medicine equipment; diagnostic and therapeutic indications of nuclear medicine techniques.

Class # 2: traumatic brain injury

Class # 3: stroke with emphasis on endovascular treatment indications and outcome evaluation

Class # 4: non-ischemic cerebrovascular pathology (aneurysms, vascular malformations, dural arteriovenous fistulas) with emphasis on endovascular treatment indications and outcome evaluation
Class # 5: Degenerative pathology of Spine

Class # 6: Presentaion of clinical cases by students

Class # 7: Presentaion of clinical cases by students

Mandatory literature

Corpo Docente; Powerpoints das aulas

Complementary Bibliography

Fred A. Mettler Jr.; Essenciais of Radiology, 2014
Vários; Artigos cientificos selecionados pelo corpo docente/Scientific articles selected by the faculty
João Xavier, Cristiana Vasconcelos, Cristina Ramos et al.; Diagnostic and Therapeutic Neuroradiology A Case-Based Guide to Good Practice, João Xavier, Cristiana Vasconcelos, Cristina Ramos, 2018. ISBN: 978-3-319-61140-2 (Selected chapters: Introduction; 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 33, 48, 49)

Teaching methods and learning activities

 Face-to-face - classes will take place in the usual manner

Theoretical and Practical classes.

Problem-guided learning.

Observation of procedures.

 

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Teste	80,00
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	20,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	53,00
Frequência das aulas	28,00
Total:	81,00

Eligibility for exams

As a condition to obtain practical frequency, it is necessary to attend the legal number of classes (3/4 of the classes taught), the practical work (written work).

Calculation formula of final grade

Final theoretical choice of multiple choice; Presentations during practical classes.

Final theoretical exam: 80% = 16 values.
Presentations at Radiology classes: 10% = 2 values.
Presentations at Neuroradiolog classes: 10% = 2 values

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Final theoretical oral exam: 80% = 16 values.
Practical tests (Presentations during classes): 20% = 4 values.

Classification improvement

Repetition of the theoretical exam, keeping the grade of the practical component.