Body Imaging: Ultrasound Section

Rotation 1

Knowledge Based Objectives: At the end of the rotation, the resident should be able to:

  1. Discuss thoroughly the ultrasound procedures and findings in:
    1. gallbladder/biliary tree ultrasound (cholelithiasis/cholecystitis)
    2. renal ultrasound (obstruction/renal failure)
    3. pelvic ultrasound (ectopic pregnancy)
    4. cranial ultrasound (intracranial hemorrhage)
    5. duplex Doppler (venous thrombosis of extremities)
  2. Discuss the basic ultrasound physics and instrumentation, especially related to equipment operation and the specifications for various probes.
  3. Describe, from observation, the technique used to perform each of the routinely performed procedures.

Technical Skills: At the end of the rotation, the resident should be able to:

  1. Review histories of patients to be examined each day to determine the relevance of the study to clinical symptoms.
  2. Record a pertinent history of the patient on the ultrasound worksheet.
  3. Advise the technologist about special views or specific parameters of the study that require special attention.
  4. Assist with the preparation and presentation of the noon ultrasound conference.

Decision-Making and Value Judgment Skills: At the end of the rotation, the resident should be able to:

  1. Given an ultrasound case, make a preliminary review of the images and advise the technologists when additional views or repeat views are needed.

Rotation 2

Knowledge Based Objectives: At the end of the rotation, the resident should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate thorough knowledge of the ultrasound procedure through performing or assisting the sonographer with performance of the following studies:
    1. liver/biliary tree (biliary obstruction/tumors)
    2. pancreas (acute and chronic inflammatory process/tumors)
    3. renal (transplant rejection/Doppler, tumors and inflammatory processes)
    4. pelvis (uterine leiomyoma/ovarian neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases)
    5. cranial ultrasound (hydrocephalus/cerebral ischemia and infarction)
    6. duplex Doppler (duplex sonography of carotids and abdominal duplex)
  2. Given the appropriate sonograms, identify and discuss significant characteristics of the pathologies listed in #1 above.

Technical Skills: At the end of the rotation, the resident should be able to:

  1. Review all scans as they are performed for significant findings that require prompt attention.
  2. Assist with preparation/presentation of cases for the ultrasound/imaging conference.

Decision-Making and Value Judgment Skills: At the end of the rotation, the resident should be able to:

  1. Make decisions in regard to notification of the referring physician if the faculty radiologist is not available for consultation.
  2. Read and/or dictate films with the assistance and review of the faculty radiologist.

Rotation 3 and 4

Knowledge Based Objectives: At the end of the rotation, the resident should be able to:

  1. Discuss all aspects of ultrasound imaging, including indications, pathology, and correlative studies used for each examination.

Technical Skills: At the end of the rotation, the resident should be able to:

  1. Successfully perform all types of abdominal, pelvic and musculoskeletal ultrasound studies including use of Doppler imaging.
  2. Review and dictate with the faculty radiologist all scans performed.

Decision-Making and Value Judgment Skills: At the end of the rotation, the resident should be able to:

  1. Make preliminary decisions on all matters of film interpretation and consultation and recognize the need to obtain assistance in situations that require the expertise of the faculty radiologist.