MEDIMAGE 304 : Advanced Radiographic Imaging

Medical and Health Sciences

2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Develops understanding of advanced radiographic imaging examinations including mammography, angiography, interventional procedures, and computed tomography. Addresses the physical principles of image production, instrumentation and dose considerations. Students will investigate a range of clinical applications, and normal and abnormal imaging appearances associated with each of these modalities.

Course Overview

This course aims to provide students with theoretical knowledge of advanced radiographic imaging including mammography, angiography, interventional procedures, and computed tomography. Students will develop the ability to apply this knowledge in the safe use of these imaging modalities in the clinical setting. In particular, this course will investigate imaging appearances of normal anatomy and a selection of common pathologies.

The course is delivered primarily at Grafton campus and will be based on a blended delivery model, with supporting resources provided online via the University of Auckland’s learning management system Canvas. The course incorporates a range of learning approaches including videos, webpages, links to the library databases and resources, and online preparatory reading and learning tasks to supplement tutorials and labs. Academic learning is expected to inform clinical practice and enhance levels of clinical competency.

This course is compulsory for the BMedImag (Hons) programme. Only students admitted to this programme are eligible to enroll in this course.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: MEDIMAGE 202, 203

Course Contacts

Course Director
Dr  Pippa Bresser
Professional Teaching Fellow
Email: pippa.bresser@auckland.ac.nz
Profile: https://profiles.auckland.ac.nz/pippa-bresser

Course Coordinator
Ms Catherine Lyman
Professional Teaching Fellow
Email: c.lyman@auckland.ac.nz 
Profile: https://profiles.auckland.ac.nz/c-lyman

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Explain the physical principles of image production in mammography, angiography, interventional procedures, and computed tomography. (Capability 3)
  2. Discuss the implications of dose and radiation protection strategies associated with advanced radiographic imaging procedures. (Capability 2, 4 and 5)
  3. Explain the principles of image optimisation and quality assurance in terms of dose and image quality. (Capability 2 and 3)
  4. Discuss appropriate preparation, procedure and after care associated with advanced radiographic imaging procedures in a patient-centred context. (Capability 4 and 5)
  5. Evaluate the impact of pharmacokinetics on the safe and effective use of iodinated contrast media in Medical Imaging (Capability 2, 3 and 4)
  6. Describe normal and abnormal imaging appearances on advanced radiographic imaging and communicate these clearly to facilitate effective patient management. (Capability 5 and 6)
  7. Evaluate the role of advanced radiographic imaging procedures in patient diagnosis, management and treatment. (Capability 4 and 5)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Written Assignment 30% Individual Coursework
Written Assignment 35% Individual Coursework
Project and Peer review 35% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Written Assignment
Written Assignment
Project and Peer review
This course is 100% internally assessed. An aggregated mark of 50% or more is required to successfully pass this course. In addition to achieving an overall pass mark, it is a requirement to attempt and submit all the assessments related to this course. Resubmission of failed assessments is not permitted.

Guidelines on the use of Gen-AI software to complete assessments in this course will be provided for each assessment.

Penalties for excessive word count and/or late submission (without prior written approval for an extension) will be applied in accordance with the 'Medical Imaging Assessment Requirements and Presentation Criteria' document.

The course Canvas page has more detailed information on assessment processes and requirements.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 30 hours of lectures, 30 hours of tutorial and/or labs, 20 hours of directed reading and thinking about the content and 70 hours of work on assignments, self-directed learning and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including labs/tutorials and lectures to complete components of the course.

Lectures will be available as recordings where practicable. Other learning activities including tutorials/labs will not be available as recordings.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Students will also be able to access a large selection of online resources via the Philson Library databases.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

 Although there were not enough responses to the SET to implement changes, students did enjoy the structure of the course and the availability of teaching staff to respond to queries. The assessments were also perceived to be appropriate and relevant. Invited speaker sessions were found to be useful, clinically related although a little content heavy, the added value to the course was welcome.

Other Information

Communication
All ocial communication to a student will be sent to the student’s current University email address (username@aucklanduni.ac.nz) and the student is responsible for ensuring that any desired forwarding to other addresses is in place and operating correctly. Sta will not be responsible for any consequences if students fail to read and respond to University correspondence in a timely manner.

Students are encouraged to use the course ‘Discussion’ forum on Canvas or Piazza as much as possible for communication with sta and other students. Email may be used for more private matters. Email communication to University staff and supervisors must be sent from the student’s University email address. As a general rule, students are advised to log-on at least twice a week. Logging on regularly allows regular checking of 'Announcements' as well as reading and engaging on relevant communication. 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

The way to avoid plagiarism is to reference your work. Please refer to the following website for further information about academic referencing: www.cite.auckland.ac.nz/

The Student Academic Conduct Statute (2021) provides further advice on how to avoid plagiarism. More information can be found in the ‘Medical Imaging Programme Information’ on Canvas.

The penalties for plagiarism can be severe, including losing some or all of the marks for the assignment. Major offences can be sent to the University’s Discipline Committee, where further penalties can be imposed.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Fitness to practise (FTP)
As health professional students, in addition to meeting the University of Auckland graduate prole capabilities, students in the Medical Imaging programmes are required to demonstrate their tness to practise. This applies to students at all times, whether they are on campus, on placement or elsewhere.

Fitness to practise (FTP) is concerned primarily with patient and public safety. It also is concerned with upholding professional standards, including the relevant professional code of conduct, and contributing to the maintenance of the reputation of the profession and public confidence in the profession.

For further information visit FMHS Fitness to Practise Policy (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about/theuniversity/how-university-works/policy-and-administration/teaching-and-learning/fmhs-code-of-fitness-topractise/fmhs-fitness-to-practise-policy.html)

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.