Introduction

This module will help you develop and apply skills to recognise normal and abnormal appearances of projectional chest radiographic images. By the end of the module you will be able to synthesise clinical information commonly seen in acute and emergency care, with projectional radiographic appearances to enable you to describe the radiographic appearances in a written format. Learning is divided into sub-sections designed to cover differing aspects of projectional chest radiography including appearances of:

• Normal projectional Chest X-ray appearances
• Collapse and consolidation;
• Blunt and penetrating trauma;
• Cardiac, mediastinal and hilar abnormalities;
• Placements of lines and tubes.

Please note: This module alone does not prove competence to provide medical reports, professionals undertaking it will be able to use their knowledge and skills to enhance the service they provide according to their employer's policies and within their defined scope of clinical practice.

For Diagnostic Radiographers, this module will enhance your 'abnormality detection systems' and 'preliminary clinical evaluation' or commenting skills.

For non-radiographers this module will allow you to continue to develop the knowledge to support your clinical practice.

Who the module is aimed at

The module is relevant to professionals who use or interpret images in their practice, typically junior doctors, diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers, physiotherapists, nurses and ACPs.

Benefits of taking the module to the individual, the organisation and the patient:

By studying this module you can informally interpret projectional radiographic appearances of the chest.

What you learn

By engaging successfully with this module you can:

• Recognise normal and abnormal appearances of projectional radiographic images of the chest and formulate a diagnosis or differential diagnoses.
• Formulate and communicate a written professional opinion, based on the interpretation of projectional radiographic images of the chest.

General areas covered:

• A systematic approach to evaluate projectional images of the chest
• Identify the range of normal appearances versus normal variants and pathological or traumatic appearances
• Acute respiratory conditions
• Some common chronic lung diseases and malignancies.
• Acute trauma.
• Correct position of lines, tubes, and drains.

Skills gained for the workplace

Technical image interpretation skills and academic skills

To study this 100% distance learning module you will require access to a computer with:

• A reliable internet connection
• Microsoft or Apple Mac Supported Office Software
• The current version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox

Fees and Funding for 2024/25

Further details

For further information please contact the module leader Denise Foulkes - d.foulkes@shu.ac.uk

Related course(s)

• MSc Advanced Clinical Practice