Explore UCD

UCD Home >

RDGY40830

Academic Year 2024/2025

Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (RDGY40830)

Subject:
Radiography
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Medicine
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
30
Module Coordinator:
Dr Allison McGee
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
Module Type:
Clinical Module
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This is a core module for students of the taught MSc Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Programme. To be eligible to progress to this module, students must normally have passed five of the six core modules undertaken during the previous Autumn, Spring and Summer Trimesters.

The aim of this module is to enable students develop knowledge and understanding of advanced MR imaging techniques and how these contribute to disease assessment, management and follow-up. In the achievement of this aim, students are encouraged to critically evaluate and make innovative use of evidence for best practice in clinical MRI management and scanning practice, enabling them to contribute to patient-centred and interdisciplinary work practices, and to lead and respond to role development challenges in the future. The module will facilitate the development of advanced knowledge and clinical skills, applied research and audit, presentation and communication skills and self-directed learning.

The module facilitates the integration of theory and practice in advanced neurological, cardiovascular and specified miscellaneous MR imaging techniques. Physical principles and clinical and research applications will be addressed, with a focus on current and future trends and an appreciation of the associated advantages, limitations, inherent pitfalls and artefacts. For each of the above topics, there will be consideration of the underlying physical basis, image acquisition strategies, including pulse sequences and parameters, methods of data display, the MRI protocol and scanning technique, with review of the principal applications in disease assessment, including appreciation of normal and abnormal appearances.

Teaching methods include lectures and tutorials, with student learning further reinforced during compulsory clinical placement in an MRI department.

Since the assessment strategy includes must-pass component assessments, students who are unsuccessful at the first attempt will be afforded an opportunity to complete an in-module component repeat assessment prior to the School Programme Examination Board. Details of the relevant timelines for this will be provided to students at the start of the trimester.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Throughout this module, students will develop knowledge, professional skills and personal attributes relevant to their future professional practice.

Knowledge Outcomes:
During this module, students will learn the principles of advanced MR imaging techniques and how these contribute to disease assessment and management in both clinical and research settings. On completion of this module, the successful student will be able to:

K1) Explain the underlying physical principles and methods of image acquisition and display for advanced neurological, cardiovascular and specified miscellaneous MR imaging techniques.
K2) Investigate the current evidence base for the application of these advanced MR imaging techniques in clinical practice, identifying associated advantages and controversies.
K3) Critically evaluate MR images acquired using advanced MR imaging techniques in the context of normal, abnormal and patterns associated with disease.
K4) Analyse and appraise the impact of developments in advanced MR imaging techniques, identifying relevant safety, ethical, economic and professional issues.
K5) Demonstrate an understanding of the differences between research and clinical audit and appraise issues relating to the implementation and performance of clinical audit in the MRI department.

Professional Skills & Competence Outcomes:
The module will facilitate further development of professional practice skills. On completion of this module the successful student will be able to:

S1) Critically analyse literature, research evidence and policy relative to clinical MR imaging practice.
S2) Direct and administer a clinical audit as an evidence-based approach to optimising MR practice within a multi-disciplinary, patient-centred work environment.
S3) Appraise MR service provision and consider strategies for effective clinical management and constructive change within the MRI department and/or radiography profession.
S4) Communicate and disseminate information to peers as part of a formal or informal departmental education programme.

Attitudes & Quality / Personal Development Outcomes:
The module aims to encourage the student’s development as an effective member of the healthcare team. On completion of this module the successful student will be able to:

A1) Determine the significant features of problems associated with theory and practice issues in MRI and identify approaches to develop personal and professional expertise.
A2) Reflect on professional issues in MR imaging practice & strategies for service enhancement, communicating these effectively to peers.
A3) Demonstrate the skills of an autonomous, self-directed, reflective practitioner, capable of advancing their lifelong learning and continued professional development beyond the MSc MRI programme.

Indicative Module Content:

Topics addressed include: clinical audit, together with the physical principles, MR scanning protocols for and clinical applications of advanced neurological, cardiovascular and other specialist MR imaging techniques for disease assessment.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

200
Autonomous Student Learning

165
Lectures

45
Tutorial

10
Placement/Work Experience

180
Total

600

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The teaching and learning approaches used in this module include: anatomy practicals, lectures, interactive, student-directed large- and small-group tutorials focusing on the physical principles, clinical applications and implications of selected advanced MR imaging techniques.
Students will have an opportunity to develop their investigative and problem-solving skills through engagement with practical audit activity in the clinical environment.
Student learning relative to MR scanning and departmental management is also reinforced during requisite clinical placement in an MRI department.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Students can only carry 10 academic credits from previous Trimesters into the final Trimester of the MSc MRI programme. Therefore, to be eligible for entry to the Advanced MR Imaging module, the final component modules of the MSc MRI programme, current students should normally have passed five of the six 10-credit core modules undertaken over the course of the previous three Trimesters, i.e., RDGY 40520, 40530, 40540, 40550, 41580 and 41590.

Applicants seeking entry to the final Advanced MR Imaging module of the MSc MRI programme on the basis of prior academic and clinical learning in Magnetic Resonance Imaging, must have successfully completed and passed a Graduate/ Postgraduate Diploma in MRI, or equivalent, prior to the year they are applying for entry.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Individual Project: Audit report on a negotiated aspect of clinical MR imaging practice. Week 14 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

30

 No
Viva Voce: Image-based oral assessment focusing on the physical principles of cardiac MR imaging techniques, scanning protocols and image interpretation. Week 8 Standard conversion grade scale 40% Yes

25

 Yes
Exam (In-person): Written examination focusing on topics addressed during the module. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Standard conversion grade scale 40% Yes

45

 Yes

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Project Component Assessment: Class-level feedback identifying key strengths and areas for improvement will be provided via Brightspace during the last week in January, with individual feedback based on a grading rubric to follow. Oral Examination: Students to be offered an in-module repeat opportunity for this must-pass assessment will be notified during the week beginning 6th November 2023. Class-level feedback identifying key strengths, common errors, and areas for improvement will be provided via Brightspace during week 14, i.e., week beginning 11th December. Individual face-to-face feedback is available on request. End-of-Trimester Written Examination: Students to be offered an in-module repeat opportunity for this must-pass assessment will be notified during the week beginning 8th January 2024. Class-level feedback identifying key strengths, common errors and areas for improvement will be provided once provisional results have been made available to students via SIS Web. Individual feedback will be provided upon request.

Name Role
Ms Andrea Cradock Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mrs Joanne Greenan Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Marie-Louise Ryan Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Print this page
Fill in the following details:
Enter the body of your query here.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.