PCN112 Medical Imaging Science

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

This unit offers an introduction to nuclear medicine, radioactive decay, radionuclide production, imaging systems and internal dosimetry. There is a strong emphasis on the application of new technologies in the clinical discipline of nuclear medicine. The second part offers an introduction to programming techniques and algorithms and digital image processing techniques that are important for the practicing medical physicist. The techniques will be authentically applied to different types of medical images preparing you for the workplace on graduation.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of nuclear medicine and image processing.
2. Critically and effectively apply advanced knowledge in nuclear medicine to real world clinical problems.
3. Constructively and creatively apply advanced skills in image processing to a wide range of different diagnostic imaging problems.
4. Engage and communicate effectively with the multi-disciplinary nuclear medicine team.
5. Work effectively as individuals and in teams to meet shared goals in medical imaging.

Content

Learning Approaches

Teaching Mode
Lectures/Workshops: 4 hours per week
Practicals/Experimental: 2 - 3 hours per week
The unit will use a combination of lectures, tutorials, and clinical department visits to add real world relevance to realise the learning outcomes for the nuclear medicine component of this unit. The image processing component will be more hands on, with lectures to introduce theory supported by guided tutorials and clinically relevant problem solving sessions with clinical images in the computing laboratory.

Learning Approaches
The unit uses blended learning in a mix of in class,online and laboratory or real world settings, informed by practicing nuclear medicine physicists.
The face to face element encompasses:

• formal lectures including industry led interactive discussions and demonstrations of solutions to authentic clinical problem solving tasks with clinical nuclear medicine physicists
• practicals and visits to nuclear medicine facilities, led by clinical nuclear medicine phyisicists with a focus on the experiential, hands-on, problem solving activities performed under the supervision of experienced professionals
• Problem based authentic image processing tasks using real clinical images to support the theoretical background and to develop your practical and professional skills.
  
  The online component includes teaching materials and supporting resources made available on Canvas. Image processing software and images will be available for download.
  
  

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will be given feedback in and out class of your progress throughout the unit in the following way:

• Written comments on problem solving tasks and practical reports
• Instant feedback on calculation based problem solving exercises(online) with in class discussion of difficult problems or questions ;
• Informal peer and teacher feedback in workshops and practicals will inform you about the development of your practical skills. .
• Individual or group consultation on request.
  
  

Assessment

Overview

Your knowledge and skills will be assessed in a variety of ways, such as an individual report based on laboratory/practical exercises, while mid- and end- of semester written exams will assess your theoretical knowledge and its application to contemporary problem based industry led challenges. The assessment has been designed by clinical nuclear medical physicists to test your theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the processing of a variety of authentic medical imaging modalities.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Laboratory/Practical

You will submit MATLAB solutions and reports on a number of authentic clinical image processing problems. 

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension

Assessment: Examination (Written)

Written examination to assess your knowledge and depth of understanding of key theoretical concepts and their application to real world clinical problems in nuclear medicine and image processing.

Assessment: Critique

You will write a critique of one or more contemporary journal articles in nuclear medicine or image processing.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.Attention will be drawn to relevant workplace health and safety issues during lectures and practicals.

Course Learning Outcomes

PH71 Graduate Diploma in Applied Science

1. Demonstrate advanced critical knowledge and specialised technical skills base on current research in medical physics
   Relates to: ULO1, Laboratory/Practical, Examination (Written)
2. Demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of the main areas of medical physics
   Relates to: ULO1
3. Effectively apply advanced discipline skills in the main areas of medical physics to meet an identified medical physics problem/requirement
   Relates to: ULO1
4. Demonstrate higher order cognitive skills to critically assess knowledge and provide creative solutions to complex problems in research or the professional practice of medical physics
   Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Laboratory/Practical
5. Systematically and critically assess current knowledge to solve complex problems within medical physics
   Relates to: ULO2, ULO3
6. Constructively, creatively and effectively apply advanced analytical skills to deal with complex issues within the field
   Relates to: ULO2, ULO3
7. Demonstrate creative problem solving and specialised professional skills in the domain of Medical Physics
   Relates to: ULO2, ULO3
8. Apply knowledge and skills and use appropriate communication strategies to transfer complex knowledge and ideas to a diverse audience
   Relates to: ULO4, Critique
9. Communicate effectively and professionally with peers, stakeholders and the broader community
   Relates to: ULO4
10. Demonstrate proficiency in all modes of professional and/or scholarly communication.
    Relates to: ULO4
11. Engage effectively across multicultural and/or interdisciplinary domains
    Relates to: ULO4
12. Apply acquired knowledge and skills to work with integrity within the professional context of Medical Physics.
    Relates to: Critique
13. Make sound judgement in a range of technical functions in various specialised contexts
    Relates to: ULO5
14. Autonomously plan and execute tasks within a varied and specialised technical context
    Relates to: ULO5
15. Apply self-management skills to successfully complete complex projects
    Relates to: ULO5

PH80 Master of Applied Science

1. Demonstrate advanced critical knowledge and specialised technical skills based on current research in medical physics
   Relates to: ULO1, Laboratory/Practical, Examination (Written)
2. Demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of the main areas of medical physics
   Relates to: ULO1
3. Critically review current research principles and methods to develop a deep understanding relevant to a specific medical physics problem
   Relates to: ULO1
4. Critically and effectively apply specialist discipline knowledge and skills to meet an identified medical physics problem/requirements
   Relates to: ULO1
5. Demonstrate higher order cognitive skills to critically assess knowledge and provide creative solutions to complex problems in research and/or the professional practice of medical physics
   Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Laboratory/Practical
6. Critically evaluate current research and research methodologies in medical physics
   Relates to: ULO2, ULO3
7. Apply investigative research methods to generate research
   Relates to: ULO2, ULO3
8. Synthesise multiple information sources to make sound judgements and to formulate best practice strategies and solutions using established theories
   Relates to: ULO2, ULO3
9. Systematically, creatively and effectively deal with complex issues to solve significant problems within medical physics
   Relates to: ULO2, ULO3
10. Constructively and creatively apply advanced analytical skills
    Relates to: ULO2, ULO3
11. Apply their knowledge and skills to design and use appropriate communication strategies to transfer complex knowledge and ideas to a diverse range of audience
    Relates to: ULO4, Critique
12. Communicate effectively and professionally with peers, stakeholders and the broader community
    Relates to: ULO4
13. Demonstrate proficiency in all modes of professional and/or scholarly communication.
    Relates to: ULO4
14. Engage effectively across multicultural and/or interdisciplinary domains
    Relates to: ULO4
15. Apply acquired knowledge and skills to work with integrity within a varied and specialised professional contexts.
    Relates to: ULO5, Critique
16. Autonomously and ethically plan and execute tasks at a professional level
    Relates to: ULO5
17. Work effectively with others to meet shared goals.
    Relates to: ULO5
18. Apply self-management skills to successfully complete complex projects.
    Relates to: ULO5