Radiology for Medical Students
Overview Textbooks and References Ten-year series, OSCEs, Tests
  • Introduction
  • Syllabus
  • Timetable
  • Examination
  • Tips
  • Textbooks
  • Booklist
    Online references
  • Brigham(Harvard's)   [Case Files]
  • CT is us   [lectures, 100 Cases]
  • Nuclear Med - Washington Uni   [Case Files]
  • CHORUS   [Text glossary of radio signs]
    Links and Directories
  • DMoz Radiology Cat
  • Past Year Questions
    - Nil -

    Online Quizes
    - See Case Files on Left -
     
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    Mamma.com
    Introduction
    Category of subject: Paraclinical
    Duration of posting: 2 weeks in 4th year
    Final examination: None
    Comments:
      Radiology, an easily forgetten 2 weeks posting in 4th year, shouldn't be that neglected, for a number of reasons. Despite having no end-of-posting test or writeup, it does feature prominently in the final MBBS as 15-25% of the OSCE for both Medicine and Surgery. Apart from that, it is also useful as a houseman (more useful than say, knowing how to elict a fluid thrill, or tactile fremitus, but that's just non-clinical me speaking).
      However, since you are only allocated 2 weeks, and a rather disorganized 2 weeks at that, it's hard to learn everything; anyway, nobody expects you to. Concentrate on (1)developing a system for reading XRays (even though CTs and MRIs are more exciting), (2)knowing the indications for each investigation, and (3)getting first hand info on what patients go through when you send them for a CT or MRI. A common pitfall is getting caught up in trying to see as many weird and interesting films in these 2 weeks as you can, but having no system about it.
      Once you leave the posting, continue to apply what you have learnt in other posting, eg. if you suspect IO in a surgical patient, what films would you order and what would you expect to find? This is important because your exams and real-life patients will have a clinical scenario first, and an xray second. For example, you do know free gas under the diaphragm is bad right? But name 2 clinical scenarios when you would just yawn in boredom at free peritoneal gas. <Answer>
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    Syllabus
    Official syllabus available?: No
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    Timetable
    Schedule:
    1/3 of the class goes through the posting together.
    Teaching methods:
    Small group (4-8 CGs) sessions: Held every morning at NUH.
    Afternoons at NUH are generally free.
    There may or may not be sessions at other hospitals. Doesn't really matter, since they mostly just show you their own collection of xrays, which you can get anywhere.
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    Examinations
      Nothing major that I can remember. Maybe 10 Xrays at the end of the posting, or 2 Xrays at the start of each day's session.
      Like I mentioned, the main testing will come during the final MBBS Medicine and Surgery OSCEs. (For my year, 12 out of 30 Surgical OSCEs were radio-based). And if you can't identify the problem, there goes the rest of the question. :(
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    Booklist
    Primary textbook
    Don't need one. If you're interested in Radio though:
    (1)Squire's Fundamentals of Radiology by Robert Novelline is an excellent introduction with superb explanations of the basic concepts. Unfortunately, it's too much for the medical student, and too little for the radio trainee.

    Reference text
  • Books for the FRCR Part 1 (2003 New Syllabus)

    Other must-have stuff
    None
    Nice-to-have stuff
    (1)Chest XRay made easy: Something nice to have as part of Medicine
    (2)Abdominal XRay made easy: Something nice to have as part of Surgery
    Revision guides & MCQs
    None
    Book review sites

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    Tips
    Study tips
      It's not an intensive posting, but a good time to settle your foundation in radio if you haven't already. Most important would be to prepare a proper sequence for each film, rather than jumping to spot diagnoses. There is no "right" order, pick one you're comfortable with and stick to it. If the opportunity arises, observe the investigations, since you'll never have the chance to do so again.
    Exam tips
      None really. Revise as part of Med/Surg.
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