RAD LAB - CT, MRI, AND DSA PHYSICS

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: B M E/MED PHYS 580 and 578 or declared in Medical Physics VISP Course Designation: Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Describe the major components and geometry of current computed tomography (CT) scanners and the factors affecting image quality and radiation dose in CT scans. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Explain the characteristics of CT image quality including pixel values, contrast, noise, low contrast detectability and spatial resolution. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Describe the characteristics of radiation dose in CT scanning including: dose profiles, the CT dose index, average dose in the scanned volume and effective dose; as well as the effect of scan parameters on the radiation dose to the patient. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Perform a physicist’s evaluation of a CT scanner including measurements of geometric accuracy, image quality and radiation dose. Audience: Graduate 5. Explain the safety screening process that all patients must undergo in order to determine whether they are eligible to safely undergo an MRI exam. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Describe the function of i) the major components of the MRI system, including the main magnetic field, the radiofrequency transceiver, and the magnetic field gradients, ii) the elements included in every MRI room, including the radiofrequency shielding, the magnet rundown unit, and the cryogen exhaust system, and iii) patient safety considerations related to these components. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 7. Understand some of the basic system tests, as recommended by the American College of Radiology (ACR), that are performed during routine quality assurance testing of an MRI system. Audience: Graduate 8. Identify the components of a digital subtraction angiography system. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 9. Understand the basic properties of DSA systems; contrast, signal to noise ratio, image dynamic range, and logarithmic image processing. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 10. Understand dual-energy subtraction and its advantages and disadvantages compared to time subtraction. Audience: Graduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Describe the major components and geometry of current computed tomography (CT) scanners and the factors affecting image quality and radiation dose in CT scans. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Explain the characteristics of CT image quality including pixel values, contrast, noise, low contrast detectability and spatial resolution. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Describe the characteristics of radiation dose in CT scanning including: dose profiles, the CT dose index, average dose in the scanned volume and effective dose; as well as the effect of scan parameters on the radiation dose to the patient. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Perform a physicist’s evaluation of a CT scanner including measurements of geometric accuracy, image quality and radiation dose. Audience: Graduate 5. Explain the safety screening process that all patients must undergo in order to determine whether they are eligible to safely undergo an MRI exam. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Describe the function of i) the major components of the MRI system, including the main magnetic field, the radiofrequency transceiver, and the magnetic field gradients, ii) the elements included in every MRI room, including the radiofrequency shielding, the magnet rundown unit, and the cryogen exhaust system, and iii) patient safety considerations related to these components. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 7. Understand some of the basic system tests, as recommended by the American College of Radiology (ACR), that are performed during routine quality assurance testing of an MRI system. Audience: Graduate 8. Identify the components of a digital subtraction angiography system. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 9. Understand the basic properties of DSA systems; contrast, signal to noise ratio, image dynamic range, and logarithmic image processing. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 10. Understand dual-energy subtraction and its advantages and disadvantages compared to time subtraction. Audience: Graduate