January 2004 Message Board Archive

 
Entrance roller marks - JohnO January 30, 2004, 1:21 am
Hi Nick,
I am looking for websites that would have information about film processor entrance roller marks (artifacts). Thank you.
John / USA / Michigan
 njo/Re: Entrance roller marks - Nick Oldnall January 30, 2004, 8:34 am
The Kodak website has some good info..
Try the other film proccessor manufacturers sites
Film entry rollers used to operate a switch to control the replenishment pump, the rollers on Kodak machines used to be ridged about 4 mm apart and 3 mm deap interlocking, as the film entered it forced the rollers apart operating the switch.
These rollers made very characteristic marks on the film if they were wet or contaninated with chemistry.
The entry rollers also may have particles from dust etc on the entry tray stuck to the physical damaging the film - in days gone by cigarette ash was a common contaminant!
Nick
 

IVU's & contrast - jules January 29, 2004, 8:41 pm
hi!
i'm a bit confused? and a bit paniky as iv'e got my IVU discussion tomos!
i thought i knew the route of contrast fomr thr median cubital vein to the kidneys but now have been told something else? is this correct? it goes from the median cubital vein - basillic vein - brachial vein - axillary vein - subclavian vein - brachio-cephalic vein - SVC - right atrium - right ventricle - through the pulmonary valve and pulmonary capillaries into the pulmonary vein - left atrium - left ventricle - segmental artieries - interlobular arteries - arcuate arteries - interlobular artiers - afferent arterioles - glomerular cappilaries - efferent arterioles - peritubular arteries - interlobular veins - arcuate veins - interlobular veins - segmental veins - renal vein? if not does anyone know a web site with the correct route on please?
thanks!
jules

 Re: IVU's & contrast - Nick Oldnall January 29, 2004, 9:57 pm
Hi there
Dont panic!
I am sure nobody is going to ask this question like a route map! I guess you have looked in the books and thats the plan but its more likely you will just need to know how it is filtered out by the kidneys and what processes occur!
HAve a good nights sleep and let us know tomorrow after you have passed the assessment that no one could be so mad as to demand that sort of road map..
Good luck
Nick

Re: IVU's & contrast - student L February 24, 2004, 3:39 pm
hi i have had me assessment and the route of the contrast agent goes like this. Into the median ante-cubital vein, into the brachial, then subclavian, SVC, into right atrium, right ventricle, out pulmonary arteries, back through pulmonary veins, into left atrium, left ventricle, descending aorta, abdominal aorta then renal arteries into kidneys hope this helps

Re: IVU's & contrast - julie February 6, 2004, 7:06 am
Thanks!
I passed!
julie

njo/Re: IVU's & contrast - Nick Oldnall February 6, 2004, 4:35 pm
Hi - Well done..
Did they ask the route of the contrast agent?!
Nick

Re: njo/Re: IVU's & contrast - julie February 14, 2004, 8:28 am
yeah they did... but when i came out with that long list my tutor laughed and said she'd never heard that detail or some of the names! but i got the marks anyway!

Re: njo/Re: IVU's & contrast - Mej March 5, 2004, 12:32 pm
It's absolute madness getting asked that for an assessment!

Re: njo/Re: IVU's & contrast - Laura March 5, 2004, 12:38 pm
Oh my! That is a hard question, what uni is that at??

Appointment Systems - Gerard Nowak January 29, 2004, 5:04 pm
 

fo 20 on trolleys - fiona January 27, 2004, 3:33 pm
Hi there
i was wondering if your patient is on a trolley and their OMBL is not 90 degrees to the cassette, say 10 degrees caudad(chin tucked right under) would you angle your CR 30 degrees from the OMBL or would it still be 20 dgrees? help please
 njo/Re: fo 20 on trolleys - Nick Oldnall January 27, 2004, 5:12 pm
The angles quoted for skull imaging should relate to a skull base line not to the cassette,
So if the chin is depressed 10 degrees the angle to the baseline should still be 20 degrees but the angle to the perpendicular line to the cassette will be 30 degrees
Hope this helps
It may help to make a little cardboard model with a pointer having a pivot and a little skaull outline then you can see positioning from a PA or AP view..

Re: njo/Re: njo/Re: assistant practitioners - Nick Oldnall February 1, 2004, 8:38 pm
 

Radiography website re-constructed - neuroradiography.co.uk January 25, 2004, 6:15 pm
Hi all
I have redesigned my neuroradiography website. I would welcome any comments about the site.
Many thanks
Mark

 Re: Radiography website re-constructed - Thea March 3, 2004, 1:18 pm
would have been useful before christmas when i had an essay on brain mr and ct. nice site though and quite easy to get around.
the whole fading between pages looks pretty but makes the site very slow to load etc...

njo/Re: Radiography website re-constructed - Nick Oldnall January 25, 2004, 7:06 pm
 Good luck with your website.... well done
I still think for academic credence you need your personal details!

design - jake January 25, 2004, 4:57 pm
Hi i am a second year student. Please could you tell me where i could find website information on the design of departments?
Thank you
Jake
 njo/Re: design - Nick Oldnall January 26, 2004, 7:40 pm
I have at last found a book with a chapter on imaging depatment desighn
Its called Hospital and Healthcare Facility Design
by Richard L. Miller and Earl S. Swensson
see-
http://www.wwnorton.com/NPB/nparch/hospitaltoc.html
You may be able to find it or obtain it through your hospital or uni library
Nick

assisstant practitioners - suzy January 24, 2004, 4:19 pm
Hello I am a trainee assistant practitioner, the first in northern ireland, wondering if there was any-one out there in the same boat. I am an ex radiography helper, enjoying the opportunity to improve myself and learn new skills, would love to talk to others going through the same process.

njo/Re: assisstant practitioners Message Board - Nick Oldnall January 25, 2004, 2:04 pm
Assistant Practitioners -
Would you like your own "private" message board? to encourage discussion and comment in a "safe" and private environment
Let me know..

Posted by suzy on February 8, 2004, 4:14 pm, in reply to "njo/Re: assisstant practitioners Message Board"
81.131.129.250
Nick i really like the site thanks for all the info. I would love an exclusive AP notice board I'm over here in belfast on my own (first AP being trained in Northern Ireland) and this would be a great way of hearing how every-one else is getting on. I have made one contact through your message board but would love to make more.
I can understand how the students hate the thought of AP's but I couldn't afford to go to university and was never encouraged to do so by my parents, so this is an invaluable opportunity to make some-thing of myself, I'm being trained in mammography and hope to be finished for the summer. Thanks again suzy

Re: njo/Re: assisstant practitioners Message Board - suzy February 8, 2004, 4:14 pm
Suzy
Your message board for APs is up and running see the mb archive section!

fluoroscopy assighnment - Aimee Stinchcombe January 23, 2004, 7:41 pm
Hi, Im just finishing my 'design a fluoroscopy room' assignment and im struggling to fing information on two things, what is a charged coupl device TV camera and what is the avarage matrix size if a fluoroscopy TV monitor. These questions are driving me mad, could you possibly suggest where i might be able to find the answers.
Thankyou,
Aimee

njo/Re: fluoroscopy assighnment - Nick Oldnall January 24, 2004, 11:26 pm
The best makers info seems to be on the GE site
http://www.gemedicalsystems.com/rad/savi/education/flatpanelseries/index.html

njo/Re: fluoroscopy assighnment - Nick Oldnall January 24, 2004, 11:22 pm
Woops I forgot
Picture elements of CCD756 (H) x 581 (V)Sensing area8.8 mm x 6.6 mm (2/3")
Another makers figure are at
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=cache:2U5Ir6SFCwMJ:www.thalesgroup.com/all/pdf/Camera_CCD.pdf+x-ray+image+intensifier+design&hl=en&lr=lang_en&ie=UTF-8
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=cache:tLBPcI6djcsJ:ndt.agfa.com/bu/ndt/index.nsf/Text/v7s2/%24file/v7s2.pdf+x-ray+image+intensifier+design&hl=en&lr=lang_en&ie=UTF-8
Nick

njo/Re: fluoroscopy assighnment - Nick Oldnall January 23, 2004, 8:38 pm
A charged coupled device is a solid state detector as used in digital camers, as opposed to a traditional TV camer with a scanning electron beam over an iput phosphor as described in most equipment books.
Excellent Fluor article from radiographics is at
http://radiographics.rsnajnls.org/cgi/content/full/20/4/1115
A neat comparison can be found at
http://www.bh.rmit.edu.au/mrs/kpm/EPCR/CR_VidCam.html
An in depth .pdf file can be found at
http://astrosun2.astro.cornell.edu/academics/courses//astro310/SITe-CCD.pdf
For details of up to date spec for fluoro cameras see the Siemens / Phillips / GE websites
If you need more help come back to me
nick

GP Appointments System - Gerard Nowak January 23, 2004, 3:55 pm
Posted by Gerard Nowak on January 23, 2004, 3:55 pm
62.6.139.12
Anyone got any tips, do'd/don't for setting up a GP appointment system?

Re: GP Appointments System - Bev Snaith February 26, 2004, 7:52 pm
Gerard
I know Chesterfield have introduced a call centre now in x-ray, 2 of our radiographers are visiting them next week
Bev

njo/Re: GP Appointments System - Nick Oldnall January 23, 2004, 8:45 pm
Hi Gerard
I dont have any experience of setting an electronic GP booking system but Tameside Hospital Manchester has recently been doing work on this contact Gordam Ludlam (Supt) for details.
However I have experience of no appt or appt systems and can comment
Come as you are no appt
Patients love it but get aggitated if waiting in busy times for more than 1 hour! . Problems with LMP in womens apps
Cant cope with equipment outages due to services etc
GP fail to give adeqaute opening times etc..
Hospital but not bank hols cause problems
Dificilt to run when there are staff shortages
Big waiting room needed
Unable to prioritise work
Lower cost of organising - running

Apps system
Predictability - good
Lond lead time from request being written to result being received
Short patient waiting time
Smaller facilities needed
Patients can choose when they come to some extent
problems can be ironed out if via phone
Postal apps at the mercy of the postal system
Cost
Dependent on computer system

Just some ideas

Anyone else more to add?

tuberculosis - Jules January 21, 2004, 3:12 pm
Posted by Jules on January 21, 2004, 3:12 pm
195.93.33.10
Just wondering if anyone could offer any advice on the subject of TB. There is so much information around but if a person gets primary TB
what can be seen radiographically??

Re: tuberculosis - auntie_biotic March 11, 2004, 8:17 pm
Posted by auntie_biotic on March 11, 2004, 8:17 pm, in reply to "tuberculosis"
195.92.168.168
An x-ray on its own cannot confirm tb, neither can a cat scan. The definative diagnosis of tb is via sputum. Xrays will then be taken to firm up the diagnosis.
I have not attended university. But have been diagnosed with tb and since found diagnosis to be wrong.
auntie_biotic
TB and U
http://www.tbandu.co.uk

njo/Re: tuberculosis - Nick Oldnall January 21, 2004, 9:03 pm
Posted by Nick Oldnall on January 21, 2004, 9:03 pm, in reply to "tuberculosis"
81.174.202.9
See the Radpath section for more info

Re: tuberculosis - Nick Oldnall January 21, 2004, 6:25 pm
Posted by Nick Oldnall on January 21, 2004, 6:25 pm, in reply to "tuberculosis"
81.174.201.26

Hi
A quick note before I put a section in Rad Path-
Also have a look at the Tb images in the Chest section of the Imagebase
Nick
General Features in T.B.
Primary T.B. shows consolidation and lymphadenopathy, pleural effusion and can occur in any location.
Secondary T.B. (reactivation) shows consolidation without lymphadenopathy, a posterior apical location, and fibrosis and calcification on healing. Cavitation may occur. Bronchogenic spread is seen with mottled small opacities.

 Re: tuberculosis - Jules January 24, 2004, 6:24 pm
Posted by Jules on January 24, 2004, 6:24 pm, in reply to "Re: tuberculosis"
195.93.33.7
Thanks v. helpful

hospital acquired infection - Jenny January 20, 2004, 10:59 pm Posted by Jenny on January 20, 2004, 10:59 pm
81.129.51.95
University of Portsmouth
Anyone know where i can find info on hospital acquired infection in relation to the x-ray dept, or if x-ray equipment can be a route for the transmission of infections?
Needed desperately for dissertation!!
 Re: hospital acquired infection - Nick Oldnall January 21, 2004, 8:34 am
Posted by Nick Oldnall on January 21, 2004, 8:34 am, in reply to "hospital acquired infection"
195.107.47.4
Try the Salford uni Dissertation archive
There have been dissertations on this topic and they should have good reference lists!
See your clinical placement dept for information relating to decontamination of equipment there will be a policy.
See Synergy there was a recent article
Nursing Times nice article
http://www.nursing-standard.co.uk/archives/vol12-19/research.htm

There is a DOH project on Hospitral acquired infection called the EPIC project, see http://www.doh.gov.uk/hai/epic.htm for more

In Google use the following search words
"Infection control" "radiology" "x-ray" "decontamination" or combinations of them and you will find numerous sites.

Good places include the Infection Control Society
 

lead protection in CT - Laura Mackinnon January 20, 2004, 3:30 pm
Posted by Laura Mackinnon on January 20, 2004, 3:30 pm
81.86.85.62

Hi Nick,
I'm a 2nd year radiography student at Bangor Uni. I have started thinking about possible dissertation ideas. Whilst in CT I noticed lead protection was not used. Is there any reason for this not being used i.e. little dose to gonads during head CT?

 Re: lead protection in CT - Heather February 1, 2004, 2:07 am
Re: lead protection in CT
Posted by Heather on February 1, 2004, 2:07 am, in reply to "lead protection in CT"
62.6.139.12

First of all you have to remember that in a CT scanner the tube moves a full 360 degrees around the patient, so if you were to give lead protection it would have to be wrapped around them. Secondly you have to think to yourself what is best for the patient? To let the radiation scatter pass through or to keep it in?
Hope that gives you something to think about.

njo/Re: lead protection in CT - Nick Oldnall January 20, 2004, 4:28 pm
njo/Re: lead protection in CT
Posted by Nick Oldnall on January 20, 2004, 4:28 pm, in reply to "lead protection in CT"
195.107.47.4

The gonad dose during head CT is very low and not considered to be a problem - you could ask medical physics in your placement hospital for the figures from testing...
The answer is that the beam is so well collimated that the scatter when produced is mainly internal, off focus radiation is very small.

Nick

A point to note would be that many CT protocols run at 120 Kv so any direct lead rubber protection would have to be able to cope with this compared with the usual max Kv of around 90 in diagnostic imaging.

Also as the beam approaches from 360 degrees in most cases then any direct lead rubber protection would have to be circular and therefore difficult to apply and make even

 

Woops missed them before they dropped off!

Thinking of a career change to Diagnostic Radiography - Dave Smith January 17, 2004, 7:21 pmRe: Thinking of a career change to Diagnostic Radiography - shane January 19, 2004, 9:49 pm Re: Thinking of a career change to Diagnostic Radiography - Laura January 18, 2004, 3:20 pm Re: Thinking of a career change to Diagnostic Radiography - Philip Cosson January 19, 2004, 1:13 pm

njo/Re: Thinking of a career change to Diagnostic Radiography - Nick Oldnall January 17, 2004, 7:53 pm

Dissertations - Nick Oldnall January 15, 2004, 9:32 pm Dissertations
Posted by Nick Oldnall on January 15, 2004, 9:32 pm
Message modified by board administrator January 15, 2004, 9:34 pm

Looking at the people needeing info for dissertations it may be of help to suggest that when choosing a topic that people do a survey to see what info is out there before stating the hypothesis - if you are not going to collect data locally, many people choose topics to later find that referencing is difficult or impossible as there is often limited publicised data!
Remeber that as I was once told by a well known Uni - we are after the process not so much the result! A well structured and accurate dissertation on a simple topic is possibly more likely to score better than a highly complex topic which has poor methodology etc!Re: Dissertations - Tracey January 15, 2004, 9:37 pm Re: Dissertations
Posted by Tracey on January 15, 2004, 9:37 pm, in reply to "Dissertations"
195.92.67.74

Hi, I am a 3rd year student in Ipswich. NIck I couldn't have put that better myself. I am talking from experience here!!!!
Students should do their literature search prior to their proposal to ensure that the information is there to work from. I unfortunately did not do this and now I am learning the hard way. Re: Dissertations - angela January 16, 2004, 4:41 pm Re: Dissertations
Posted by angela on January 16, 2004, 4:41 pm, in reply to "Re: Dissertations"
195.92.168.178

Excellent advice Tracey, I`m also a third student and from experience you need to choose a topic that you are interestedd in because you will be working on it for a long time. I also advise to start reading around as soon as you can because it will save time in the long run when other coursework, exams, vivas, etc pile up!!! St. Martin`s College, Lancaster

Re: Efficacy of radiographs - Tracey January 15, 2004, 9:11 pm Re: Efficacy of radiographs
Posted by Tracey on January 15, 2004, 9:11 pm
195.92.67.68

Hi I am a 3rd year diagnostic student in Suffolk. Does anyone know of any efficacy studies done on radiographs (in particular the swimmer's view). Any will do!!!! I also tried to see if there were any audits done on the resultant images but with no luck. Re: Re: Efficacy of radiographs - Nick Oldnall January 17, 2004, 9:02 pmRe: Re: Efficacy of radiographs
Posted by Nick Oldnall on January 17, 2004, 9:02 pm, in reply to "Re: Efficacy of radiographs"
81.174.200.197
You may like to take a look at
http://www.acr.org/dyna/?id=appcrit&pdf=0243-246_cervicalspinetrauma_ac Re: Re: Efficacy of radiographs - Tracey January 19, 2004, 10:23 am Re: Re: Efficacy of radiographs
Posted by Tracey on January 19, 2004, 10:23 am, in reply to "Re: Re: Efficacy of radiographs"
195.92.67.67
Many many thanks for all your help Nick. That web site is just what I needed. njo/Re: Re: Efficacy of radiographs - Nick Oldnall January 15, 2004, 9:27 pm njo/Re: Re: Efficacy of radiographs
Posted by Nick Oldnall on January 15, 2004, 9:27 pm, in reply to "Re: Efficacy of radiographs"
81.174.200.213

Try the audit depts of your local hospital for audit results-
By efficacy do you mean comparison of false positives.negatives v an alyernative imaging method eg CT
It would be interesting to so the results of MR and CT in cases of suspected trauma and lesions v the results of conventional imaging - you could contact a spinal injuries unit and see if they had any info on cases of known trauma and the original radiographs - try Stoke Mandeville, Southport - Oswestry - Sheffield.
NickRe: njo/Re: Re: Efficacy of radiographs - Tracey January 15, 2004, 9:43 pm Re: njo/Re: Re: Efficacy of radiographs
Posted by Tracey on January 15, 2004, 9:43 pm, in reply to "njo/Re: Re: Efficacy of radiographs"
195.92.67.74

Hi Nick,
What I mean by efficacy in this respect is the resultant image meeting a certain criteria. I have obtained a criterion sheet from a study that a radiologist produced. You may recall that I am doing a study on the efficacy of the swimmer's projection.
I have searched and searched for audits on radiographic quality and keep hitting a brick wall.
 njo/Re: njo/Re: Re: Efficacy of radiographs - Nick Oldnall January 15, 2004, 10:21 pm njo/Re: njo/Re: Re: Efficacy of radiographs
Posted by Nick Oldnall on January 15, 2004, 10:21 pm, in reply to "Re: njo/Re: Re: Efficacy of radiographs"
81.174.200.213
Try
Annis JA, Finlay DB, Allen MJ, Barnes MR. A review of cervical-spine radiographs in casualty patients. Br J Radiol 1987;60:1059-61.
El-Khoury GY, Kathol MH, Daniel WW. Imaging of acute injuries of the cervical spine: value of plain radiography, CT, and MR imaging. AJR 1995;164:43-50.
They come from an interesing article ref list at
http://www.health-sciences.ubc.ca/whiplash.bc/references.html#2.3
I searched google on C7 MRI CT

Re: njo/Re: Re: Efficacy of radiographs - Nick Oldnall January 15, 2004, 10:11 pm Re: njo/Re: Re: Efficacy of radiographs
Posted by Nick Oldnall on January 15, 2004, 10:11 pm, in reply to "Re: njo/Re: Re: Efficacy of radiographs"
81.174.200.213

Hi Tracey
Its a big problem there is not much published data on the results of audit you may have to look for unpublished data that may hide in local audit offices and departments..
You may find some on sites where there are articles about the efficacy of other modalities saying how much better they are than plain films.
try searching for articles on spinal injuries and imaging with CT and MR they may have the data you are seeking..
Good luck

image quality - tim January 15, 2004, 7:10 pmimage quality
Posted by tim on January 15, 2004, 7:10 pm
195.194.178.157
hi, do you know of any websites describing how exposure factors affect image quality?
Many thanks

 njo/Re: image quality - Nick Oldnall January 15, 2004, 9:24 pm njo/Re: image quality
Posted by Nick Oldnall on January 15, 2004, 9:24 pm, in reply to "image quality"
81.174.200.213

The Kodak website has some good info
Nick

Fingernail Artifact - John O. January 15, 2004, 3:21 pmFingernail Artifact
Posted by John O. on January 15, 2004, 3:21 pm
67.72.226.90
What would indicate if a fingernail artifact was done while loading the cassette vs. if was after the exposure & loaded in to the processor? Thank you.
John

 Re: Fingernail Artifact - Nick Oldnall January 15, 2004, 5:37 pm Re: Fingernail Artifact
Posted by Nick Oldnall on January 15, 2004, 5:37 pm
Message modified by board administrator January 15, 2004, 5:45 pm

I think the general wisdom is that damage to the film emulsion done before exposure tends to make pale marks and after dark marks as the emulsion has been sesitised by the exposure,
However I have seen dark crip marks along the edge od film about 2 inches from the edge which are where the film has folded over a pressure point caused by flexing a film on withdrawl from the hopper
You can try this take a piece of film in one hand and support it on two fingers below and thumb above press down with the thumb and see the film try and straighten level then flop over causing a crinkle.
Plus-density (dark) artifacts can indicate one of two different scenarios:
The artifact was caused by the application of physical pressure to the film after the film was exposed.
poor film-handling techniques unloading the film from a Cassette
dropping or bending the film before feeding it into the processor
The artifact was caused sometime during the development stage of the processing cycle.
Minus-density (light) artifacts can indicate one of three different scenarios:
The artifact was caused by the application of physical pressure to the film before the film was exposed.
poor film handling techniques before or during the loading of the film into a Cassette
The artifact was caused sometime during the fixing or washing stage of the processing cycle.
The artifact was caused by dust or dirt in the Cassette.
Ref:http://www.kodak.com
 Re: Fingernail Artifact - Steve January 22, 2004, 4:11 pm Re: Fingernail Artifact
Posted by Steve on January 22, 2004, 4:11 pm, in reply to "Re: Fingernail Artifact"
62.6.139.12

You never saw that at Tameside I hope !

Plain film performance studies - Aimee Fisher January 14, 2004, 3:32 pmPlain film performance studies
Posted by Aimee Fisher on January 14, 2004, 3:32 pm
195.194.178.156

Uni of Derby, England
I am doing a plain film performance study on student radiographers for my final year project to establish how image interpretation skills develope during the degree. I'm having trouble finding any literature for my literature review! Do you know of any good articles that would be useful? Thank you, Aimee


  njo/Re: Plain film performance studies - Nick Oldnall January 14, 2004, 6:07 pm njo/Re: Plain film performance studies
Posted by Nick Oldnall on January 14, 2004, 6:07 pm, in reply to "Plain film performance studies"
81.174.200.105

Hi Aimee
Well done on choosing an interesting disertation topic - unfortunately I dont know of any literature but if you find some I would love to know..
Good luck
Nick
 

cerebral haemorrhages - thea January 14, 2004, 12:57 pmcerebral haemorrhages
Posted by thea on January 14, 2004, 12:57 pm
195.137.30.176

i need info on imaging for CT amd MR of different ones. any help appreciated.
thanks

 njo/Re: cerebral haemorrhages - Nick Oldnall January 14, 2004, 9:43 pm njo/Re: cerebral haemorrhages
Posted by Nick Oldnall on January 14, 2004, 9:43 pm, in reply to "cerebral haemorrhages"
81.174.200.246

Some usefuls refs:

http://www.medstudents.com.br/radio/radio4.htm
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10187876&dopt=Abstract
For more try these search word in Google
cerebral hemorrhages imaging comparison
Have a look in RAD from the last year and the North american clinics series of books

Nick
 

Radiographer led Sigmoidoscopy - Gerard Nowak January 14, 2004, 10:34 amPosted by Gerard Nowak on January 14, 2004, 10:34 am
62.6.139.12

I wish to contact any Radiographers who perform Sigmoidoscopy. Perhaps there are some Barium Enema Radiographers who have extended their role to encompass this examination?


Re: Radiographer led Sigmoidoscopy
Posted by Bev Snaith on February 11, 2004, 9:09 pm, in reply to "Radiographer led Sigmoidoscopy"
82.38.8.226
Gerard
One of the clinical specialists at Pinderfields has completed the course in flexible sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy and is about to start 'independent' sessions. If you get in touch I'll pass your details on.

Re: Radiographer led Sigmoidoscopy - Nick Oldnall January 14, 2004, 10:00 pm Re: Radiographer led Sigmoidoscopy
Posted by Nick Oldnall on January 14, 2004, 10:00 pm, in reply to "Radiographer led Sigmoidoscopy"
81.174.200.246

I guess you know about these 2?
RADIOGRAPHER LED. ONE STOP. BARIUM ENEMA. &. FLEXIBLE SIGMOIDOSCOPY SERVICE.
Christine Bloor. Royal Cornwall Hospital.

Nick Clark, Superintendent Radiographer
Glenfield Hospital, University Hospitals of Leicester, Groby Road, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE3 9QP
Tel: 0116 256 3477
 

njo/Re: Radiographer led Sigmoidoscopy - Nick Oldnall January 14, 2004, 12:20 pm njo/Re: Radiographer led Sigmoidoscopy
Posted by Nick Oldnall on January 14, 2004, 12:20 pm, in reply to "Radiographer led Sigmoidoscopy"
195.107.47.4

Hi Gerrard sorry I cant help you on this perhaps contact with Gastro radiographers group or leeds enamea website would be able to help you...
Nick

panic - thea January 12, 2004, 3:23 pmpanic
Posted by thea on January 12, 2004, 3:23 pm
195.137.30.176

just found out that intwo weeks i am meant to be disussing my dissertation ideas with some of my lecturers. help i don't know what to do!!!

 njo/Re: panic Nick Oldnall January 12, 2004, 4:38 pm Posted by Nick Oldnall on January 12, 2004, 4:38 pm, in reply to "panic"
195.107.47.4

Fist of all dont panic (YET) - wait till you have the same time left and need to hand it in!
Seriously - what are you interested in? it always hels to be interested in your dissertation.
A few ideas...
Does university training respresent the department workload - the changing requesting pattern over the last 10 years.
Radiographic cassettes are a major source of infection. An investigation into contamination in imaging.
Same for U/S

Good Radiographers are born not bred - psycomotor testing related to exam / assessment marks
Anyone else any innovative examples...
Good luck
Nick
 

Duties of xray tech?? - Megan January 12, 2004, 2:27 pm njo/Re: Duties of xray tech??Duties of xray tech??
Posted by Megan on January 12, 2004, 2:27 pm
63.185.17.33

Hi I am currently at Indiana State University. I am thinking about becoming an xray tech. I am little sketchy on the duties that they perform. Do they have to start IVs? If someone could give me a little insight in the field that would be great!!! Please email at
 

Re: Duties of xray tech??
Posted by Dwayne on March 8, 2004, 4:48 am, in reply to "Duties of xray tech??"
68.217.189.53

I am looking into xray tech i would like to know what is required of them and how long the schools are. I am in Bowling Green Ky looking at Wester ky U can you give me some info please. Thank you Dwayne


Nick Oldnall January 12, 2004, 4:41 pmnjo/Re: Duties of xray tech??
Posted by Nick Oldnall on January 12, 2004, 4:41 pm, in reply to "Duties of xray tech??"
195.107.47.4

Megan you really need to spend some time in a department and talk to techs watch the processes and get to speak to student techs..
CAll up your local hospital - arrage a visit - contact your ocal educatr and have a chat...

There a web sies which can tell you but it really is no substitute for actually doing - it will be an important decision in your life you owe it to yourself to see what goes on and the life and experience of as many aspects of an imaging department.

Good luck
Nick

Fluoroscopy Again!!! - adam January 11, 2004, 4:03 pm Re: Fluoroscopy Again!!! -Posted by adam on January 11, 2004, 4:03 pm
195.92.67.74

Hi
I've come to the radiation protection part of my assignment and im alittle low on things to include. So far i have identified the need for lead aprons, thyroid shields, the shielding around the controll panel and also the ceiling mounted framed shield that allows for close patient/radiographer interation whilst screening is takin place. Is ther anything else that i have missed or anything that i shouldnt have included?
Cheers
Adam

dollypeg January 12, 2004, 12:57 pm Posted by adam on January 11, 2004, 4:03 pm
195.92.67.74
Posted by dollypeg on January 12, 2004, 12:57 pm, in reply to "Fluoroscopy Again!!!"
62.6.139.12

Don't forget risk assesment.

 njo/Re: Fluoroscopy Again!!! - Nick Oldnall January 12, 2004, 1:53 pm Posted by Nick Oldnall on January 12, 2004, 1:53 pm, in reply to "Re: Fluoroscopy Again!!!"
195.107.47.4
Thanks Neil
How could I ever forget!
Nick
 

njo/Re: Fluoroscopy Again!!! - Nick Oldnall January 11, 2004, 5:20 pmPosted by Nick Oldnall on January 11, 2004, 5:20 pm, in reply to "Fluoroscopy Again!!!"
81.174.206.14

28 Day Rule
10 Day rule
Isodose curve round table -
Then think dose reduction which is just another radiation protection angle

METHODS FOR REDUCING DOSES TO PATIENTS FROM
X-RAY EXAMINATIONS


Radiological Procedures

1 Define strict referral criteria to exclude clinically unhelpful examinations
2 Improve availability of previously taken films and their transfer between hospitals
3 Minimise number of radiographs per examination
4 Minimise fluoroscopy time and current
5 Introduce QA programme to make regular checks on and to optimise staff and equipment performance
6 Regularly assess repeat rates and reasons for rejected and repeated films
7 Periodically measure patient doses and take action if they exceed ‘guideline’ doses
8 Collimate X-ray beam to minimise size
9 Shield sensitive organs when possible
10 Choose projections which minimise dose to sensitive organs
11 Radiologists to specify a low mean optical density for radiographs
12 Use patient compression when appropriate
13 If radiographic exposure factors are selected manually, develop and employ reliable and accurate methods for matching them to patient stature

Radiology Equipment

14 Select the most sensitive film/screen combination available consistent with good diagnostic quality (e.g. rare-earth screens)
15 Operate film processor optimally (especially temperature)
16 Reduce attenuation between patient and image receptor to a minimum, e.g. use carbon fibre components in:
couch tops
antiscatter grids
cassette fronts
17 Improve the reliability and ease of use of AEC devices and use more widely
18 Use ‘Diamentor’ dose-area product meter to make regular checks on patient exposure and to monitor performance of those physically directing fluoroscopic examinations
19 Install antiscatter grids with lowest grid factors compatible with adequate scatter rejection
20 Remove antiscatter grid during fluoroscopy or photofluoroscopy when field size is small or detail not critical.
21 Use equipment with automatic beam collimation to image receptor
22 Develop X-ray generators that reliably deliver the low dose rates demanded by rare-earth screens and paediatric examinations
23 Install modern image intensifiers with sensitive (e.g. CsI) photocathodes and digital image processing
24 Use video recorder instead of cine camera during fluoroscopy wherever possible

Radiology Equipment (continued)

25 Use spot film photofluoroscopy with modern image intensifier and 100mm camera instead of radiography whenever appropriate
26 Use pulsed systems with image storage devices in fluoroscopy
27 Use slot or scanned beam radiography
28 Replace conventional radiography by computed radiography


Ref: NRPB Patient Dose Reduction in Diagnostic Radiology, Vol 1 No 3 1990

 

RNI - Thea January 11, 2004, 12:18 pm Posted by Thea on January 11, 2004, 12:18 pm
195.137.30.176

i need to evaluate the use of RNI in the diagnosis of a soft tissue pelvic mass. anyone know any websites, journels or useful books. all help appreciated.

njo/Re: RNI - Nick Oldnall January 11, 2004, 3:18 pm Posted by Nick Oldnall on January 11, 2004, 3:18 pm, in reply to "RNI"
81.174.204.100

From memory RNI soft tissue investigation uses Gallium so you will need to search Google or similar with search word combinations of
Abdomen, Gallium, RNI, "Soft Tissue" I tried it and came up with some interesting sites
eg
http://www.snm.org/pdf/tumga2.pdf

www.brighamandwomens.org/nuclearmedicine/ GalliumImaging.asp
 Re: njo/Re: RNI - Thea January 12, 2004, 2:28 pmPosted by Thea on January 12, 2004, 2:28 pm, in reply to "njo/Re: RNI"
195.137.30.176
thank you for ur help :) hopefully now i'll get my BS/TRP paper finished!
 

Reversing the cassette - John E. Olakowski January 10, 2004, 7:29 pm Posted by John E. Olakowski on January 10, 2004, 7:29 pm
67.72.226.97

Nick,
I attend a small community college in Michigan, USA. Recently at a clinical site, a tech had shown me if you did not have a grided cassette or a grid on hand, turn the cassette around & place behind the patient. This application was a very large female on a cart which needed an AP chest. Due to much breast tissue & arm limitations (pacemakerimplant), a nongrided cassette was placed behind her backwards. A technique was used that was less then a grided cassette & a radograph came out great. I do understand that the front of the cassette has a lower atomic # then the back. Can you explain this to me a little better. Also, the film was a standard film which would be used on abdomen.
Thanks you once again for your wisdom,

njo/Re: Reversing the cassette - Nick Oldnall January 10, 2004, 7:47 pm Posted by Nick Oldnall on January 10, 2004, 7:47 pm, in reply to "Reversing the cassette"
81.174.206.104

Hi I have never heard of this before!
However the theory is as you suggest the back of the cassette is usually made of a material stronger than the front and often aluminium.
With the large exposure, large patient volume producing much low energy scatter the aluminium has filtered out the low energy scattered radiation like the filtration in the tube head which filters out low energy radaition produced by the tube before it is absorbed by the patient.

The image would be degraded by artifacts like cassette clips and the image would need to be marked up in reverse!

Many years ago there were a few articles in magazines and I tried it with oblique cervical spine x-rays of patients in beds with a double angulation using a thin sheet of zinc on top the cassette - it worked well!
 

Fluoroscopy Units - Adam January 10, 2004, 6:53 pm Hi all
Firstly just want to say thanks to nick for your help on my post further down the board 'radiographic technology assignment'.

Secondly i was wondering whether or not anyone knows of sites or books that give info on the generators used for fluoroscopy units. The one at my placement hospital uses a 412V or 412kV (i think) power source. However if anyone knows wot sort of generator that is used for fluoroscopy units it would be of great help to me.
Cheers
Adam
(PS. Nick your notes on generators have been very helpful and are the only ones of that type ive been able to find on the internet)


 njo/Re: Fluoroscopy Units - Nick Oldnall January 10, 2004, 7:48 pm Posted by Nick Oldnall on January 10, 2004, 7:48 pm, in reply to "Fluoroscopy Units"
81.174.206.104

I have added a couple of extra diagrams to the generators section in the Rad tech section for you
Nick

njo/Re: Fluoroscopy Units - Nick Oldnall January 10, 2004, 7:25 pm Hi Adam
Good to hear xray2000 has been useful
Fluoroscopy units generators are now in most cases (apart from high power cardiac angio)medium frquency units.

The 412 volt power source is probably a reference to the 3 phase supply needed.

Quote from GE
The X-ray generator utilizes microprocessor control and high frequency inverter technology, delivering power, reliability and excellent image quality, while reducing patient dose and requiring minimum space.

Ask on placement or uni for the "Blue Reports" from FAxil & Kcare they are independent reports on equipment and give the details you need.

Cheers

Nick

 

preceptorship period - phil January 10, 2004, 4:48 pm Posted by phil on January 10, 2004, 4:48 pm
195.194.178.157

Hi i am a first year diagnostic radiography student at the University of Derby. How long does the preceptorship period last for and what is required by the radiographer in this period?

Re: preceptorship period - Nick Oldnall January 10, 2004, 7:12 pm

Posted by Nick Oldnall on January 10, 2004, 7:12 pm, in reply to "preceptorship period"
81.174.206.104

Hi-
I can only quote from a cuple of documents as I dont really know the answer -
You could contact the sites listed here for more details as they will have some experience-
I think it will not be on a time frame but a competency framework
Cheers

Nick

Radiography Skills Mix
A report on the four-tier service delivery model

11. Preceptorship
11.1. A short-term process of support and guidance offered to a qualified individual in during
the early stagesof a new or significantly different role.
11.2. The process should continue until confidence and independence is measurably assured.
Interim Guidance on Implementing the Society and College of Radiographers Career Progression Framework in Radiography

5.1 Preceptorship
State registered practitioners in radiography will be competent to practise at registration and it is intended to link these competencies to relevant occupational standards. However, it is recognised that newly qualified SRPs experience role transition anxieties and require additional support to develop into confident practitioners, especially if they move to a different setting on qualifying. A period of preceptorship will be introduced to promote independence and confirm good clinical practice in a variety of situations and settings.

Preceptorship will enable the newly qualified practitioner to consolidate knowledge, to be inducted into the policies and procedures of the workplace and to reflect on their practice, especially on challenging experiences. At the end of the preceptorship period practitioners should feel confident about engaging with clinical supervision /mentorship throughout their careers.

During the preceptorship period practitioners should work with their preceptor for a specific period of time during the working week. The preceptorship period is not time limited but relates to achievement of mutually agreed goals in relation to decision making and know how in the context of departmental protocols for clinical imaging/treatment delivery and patient care. Preceptorship will end when preceptor, practitioner and manager agree that goals have been attained. This whole process will be incorporated into the performance management systems already in place within departments.

Scoping Sites
Bradford Royal Infirmary
Central Manchester NHS Trust
Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust
Scunthorpe General Hospital
St. Thomas’ Hospital

Development Sites
Hinchingbrooke Healthcare NHS Trust
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
London Consortium, (Homerton, Lewisham and
University College Hospitals)
Macclesfield General Hospital
Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust

attention PG students - vips January 10, 2004, 3:15 am Posted by vips on January 10, 2004, 3:15 am
203.200.107.145

hi,
i am an asian radiography student(3rd year B.Sc). i wish to know more about the post graduate courses offered by various universities of the UK. are these more popular amongst practicing radiographers or students can take them up immediately after they complete there B.Sc? do ineed to be registered withthe HPC first?also which modules are more benefitting? like are the image reporting qualifications really rewarding njo/Re: attention PG students - Nick Oldnall January 10, 2004, 9:15 amPosted by Nick Oldnall on January 10, 2004, 9:15 am, in reply to "attention PG students"
81.174.200.174

The UK Society of radiographers produces a list of postgraduate courses at
http://www.sor.org/public/dirco.html
There are sometimes entry requirements for courses requiring prospective candidates to have some experience or departmental support for the candidate.

In theory there is no reason why you should not start one immediately, however some general experience may well be beneficial, when the 4 tier system comes in completing the preceptoship period may be a good idea and experience gained may help you choose the direction of PG education you would like to take.

In order to be a consultant radiographer a course which permits you an input into the decision process of diagnosis may be useful.

HPC registration is not a requirement to participate on a course.
 

Photoelectric effect - lindsey January 9, 2004, 2:03 pm Posted by lindsey on January 9, 2004, 2:03 pm
195.93.33.10

Hi Nick
Can u recommend a good book or website for a diagram on the above.
Cheersnjo/Re: Photoelectric effect - Nick Oldnall January 9, 2004, 9:37 pmPosted by Nick Oldnall on January 9, 2004, 9:37 pm, in reply to "Photoelectric effect"
81.174.202.20

Have a look in the Rad tech section under Attenuation of an x-ray beam there are some notes and good references
As for books Try

Principals of Radiation Ohysics by Wilkes
Essential Physics for Radiographers by Ball & Moore
First Year Physics for Radiographers by Hay & Hughes

Chi square test - Pam January 7, 2004, 11:45 am

Posted by Pam on January 7, 2004, 11:45 am
217.137.106.61

Hi I am a third year mature student at Ipswhich uni. please could anybody put the chi square test into simpler terms or let me know of any useful books that could help in this.
I would be very grateful of any help.
Thanks Pam

njo/Re: Chi square test - Nick Oldnall January 7, 2004, 1:01 pm

Hi Pam
I sympathise - these things can really get out of hand !
Most of these types of statistical test are to determine if the results from experiments etc could have happened by chance and if so what was the likely hood of the reuslts obtained being valid or not
Each type of test realtes to diffent sample/data types, some are better for numeric data, some for large sample sizes etc.
The Chi squared test is used when comparing sets of data to compare with the hypothesis or null hypothesis you have already established.
"A non-parametric test, like chi square, is a rough estimate of confidence; it accepts weaker, less accurate data as input than parametric tests (like t-tests and analysis of variance, for example) and therefore has less status in the pantheon of statistical tests. Nonetheless, its limitations are also its strengths; because chi square is more 'forgiving' in the data it will accept, it can be used in a wide variety of research contexts"

You may find the audit dept of your placement hospital can help you - also at uni there may be a maths help dept I know Salford uni has "Mathscope" to help students with the stats aspects of dissertations etc.

Web sites you may like are:

http://www.georgetown.edu/faculty/ballc/webtools/web_chi_tut.html

http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/collections/statsbk/8.shtml

http://www.zephryus.demon.co.uk/geography/resources/fieldwork/stats/chi.html

A book I like is An Introduction to medical Statistics by Bland.

If you need more help come back to me...

Nick

Re: njo/Re: Chi square test - Pam January 7, 2004, 3:45 pm

Posted by Pam on January 7, 2004, 3:45 pm, in reply to "njo/Re: Chi square test"
62.253.32.5

Hi Nick,
Oh thanks so much you have been a great help! Will check out the web sites you suggest.
Thanks again

Pam Ipswich Uni

Re: njo/Re: Chi square test - Nick Oldnall January 7, 2004, 9:26 pm Re: njo/Re: Chi square test
Posted by Nick Oldnall on January 7, 2004, 9:26 pm, in reply to "Re: njo/Re: Chi square test"
81.174.200.39

Pam I have put a nice chart on hypothesis testing selection in the Dissertation Help section for you
Hypothesis testing - method flowchart

Controlled Areas? - Amy January 6, 2004, 3:24 pm

Posted by Amy on January 6, 2004, 3:24 pm
194.242.148.252

I need to know where the term "controlled area" came from - is it as recent as IR(ME)R 2000 or is this an older term that could be found in some older laws/regulations? I'm having real difficulty in accessing the full IR(ME)R regs and any searches on sites like google just bring back lots of irrevelant info!
-Leeds Uni, UK.

Re: Controlled Areas? - Nick Oldnall January 6, 2004, 4:37 pm

Posted by Nick Oldnall on January 6, 2004, 4:37 pm
Message modified by board administrator January 6, 2004, 4:56 pm

Controlled areas came in the Ionising Radiation Regs 1985 as far as I remember
The full IRMER2000 regs are on this site in the NHS regs section..
"Safe Working With Ionizing RadiationsSafe working practice with radiation is covered by legislation, the Ionizing Radiations Regulations (NI) 1985. These set out the basic safety standards for the protection of workers health and regulate work with both open (unsealed) and closed (sealed) radioisotope sources and with x-rays. Laboratories where workers might receive annual doses of over 3/10 of the maximum permitted annual dose of radiation of 50 millisieverts ie 15 millisieverts are designated as "controlled" areas. Access to these areas is strictly controlled and workers may be subject to medical surveillance. One alternative to medical surveillance in "controlled" areas where the instantaneous dose rate exceeds 7.5 microsieverts per hour is to provide adequate shielding and to strictly limit the exposure time of individuals to radiation."

Ref: www.srp-uk.org/utrecht/utr36.pdf

Re: Controlled Areas? - Amy January 6, 2004, 10:28 pm

Posted by Amy on January 6, 2004, 10:28 pm, in reply to "Re: Controlled Areas?"
62.254.64.9

Thanks! Thats a great help.

Sorry the below postings had gone before I could catch them - Nick