RAD5107 - Hybrid and molecular imaging

This unit is a foundation unit of the Master of CT Radiography Practice and the Master of Radiography Practice. It extends knowledge of the basic physical principles of molecular imaging and introduces the methodologies that underpin the advancements in hybrid imaging. The unit will introduce the student to the current state-of-the-art in multi-modal 3-D volumetric imaging. This imaging paradigm will be contextualised with respect to the different combinations of the individual imaging protocols which are combined to form hybrid images. The protocols of particular relevance include CT, MRI, Ultrasound, SPECT and PET. The hardware requirements of each of these modalities will be discussed in detail, with particular attention paid to the technological advancements that have facilitated the development of fully-hybrid scanning geometries. The techniques for processing and visualising 3-D images will be critically analysed. The unit will describe the physical and mathematical principles related to image registration, segmentation and partitioning. Protocols with respect to patient preparation, monitoring and positioning will also be discussed. The unit will conclude with an examination of the application of quality assurance and quality control principles to the various modality combinations that constitute hybrid imaging.