A problem-based learning experience in a radiology rotation for sixth-year medical students.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse a problem-based learning experience (PBL) in the sixth year of medicine, within a course organised in successive rotations of 12 school days for 7 annual groups. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Each group was divided into subgroups of 6-8 students. Each subgroup was assigned two cases with radiographic images that they had to prepare and present in a joint session in which the students discussed each case and the teacher acted as moderator, without providing solutions. Finally, they had 15 days to complete the debate in an online forum and prepare a written report on each case. RESULTS: During 6 consecutive years, 1001 students participated, whose annual grades ranged between 7.7 ±â€¯1.6 and 9.0 ±â€¯0.7 (mean ±â€¯standard deviation). No correlation was found between the degree of difficulty assigned to the cases and the mean score obtained by each group (R2 = 0.0115). Sixty-six point two percent completed a questionnaire rating various aspects of this experience above 4 out of 5 points and providing overall scores above 8.3 out of 10 points in the different years. The students found this experience appropriate to the objectives of the subject and useful for their educational needs. CONCLUSIONS: PBL allows students to acquire skills of understanding, reasoning and deepening in radiological diagnosis. This study demonstrates that an experience based on PBL can be included in a radiology course organised in a traditional way, allowing students to be graded regardless of the difficulty of the cases.

End-of-degree projects in radiology in Spanish universities.

The End-of-Degree Project (TFG) is a supervised research project that medical students must carry out before graduating. This study aims to make radiology teaching staff aware of the importance of getting involved in tutoring radiology TFGs. We provide recommendations to help encourage students choose our area and carry it out. We describe the TFG regulations for the subject of medicine as well as data on TFGs carried out both in medicine in general, and more specifically in radiology between 2018 and 2022. The total number of radiology TFGs was 181, accounting for 3.3% of the 5349 TFGs carried out in medicine. There was a discrepancy between the results found on the websites, those expected according to the number of graduates and those provided by the teachers contacted. We would consider reasonable a percentage of TFGs in radiology proportional to the number of credits of this subject during the degree course and the number of lecturers in this subject.

Update in imaging tests used for the localization of parathyroid pathology.

Preoperative localization of parathyroid pathology, generally a parathyroid adenoma, can be difficult in some cases due to the anatomical variants that these glands present. The objective of this review is to analyse the different imaging techniques used for preoperative localization of parathyroid pathology (scintigraphy, ultrasound, CT, MRI and PET). There is great variability between the different tests for the preoperative localization of parathyroid pathology. The importance of knowing the different diagnostic options lies in the need to choose the most suitable test at each moment and for each patient for an adequate management of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP) with surgical criteria.

[Google and PubMed for physicians: how to find information without getting lost]. / Google y PubMed para médicos: ¿cómo buscar información sin perderse?

Searching on Internet looking for clinically relevant medical information, used as a clinical decision aid tool, for self-learning or for research, is currently a common practice in Radiology. This task has been strengthened by the technological environment where radiologists work with direct access to information sources from the Workstation. The aim of this paper is to review the basic features of information searching tools in order to understand their functions and to optimize medical information searching on Internet. Google, Google Scholar and PubMed are reviewed as models for that purpose.

The objective structured clinical examination (OSCE): Main aspects and the role of imaging.

The objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) is a format of examination that enables students to be evaluated in a uniform, standardized, reliable, and objective way. It is carried out in different clinical stations that simulate real clinical situations and scenarios. Numerous universities in Spain and other countries employ this approach for the final examination for medical school students. This update describes the organization, design, and fundamentals for the OSCE, proposing that radiology should form part of multidisciplinary OSCEs to the extent that it forms part of clinical practice. Moreover, it is interesting and opportune to introduce the OSCE in undergraduate and postgraduate training in radiology. Online platforms enable bidimensional OSCEs that are cost-effective in terms of staff, resources, and physical space, although this approach has certain limitations. Virtual world technologies make it possible to reproduce OSCE stations in three-dimensional scenarios; recent experiences in radiology have shown that this approach interests and motivates students and is widely accepted by them.

The current situation of Radiology training in medical studies in Spain.

Radiology is now an essential part of Clinical Medicine, but undergraduate training does not reflect its importance in medical practice. In the current course, there are 46 medical schools in our country. According to the information published on the institutional websites, the study plans are very different in terms of the presence of Diagnostic Radiology and the organization of teaching. The estimated number of teaching hours in diagnostic radiology (mean ±â€¯standard deviation) is 61.3 ±â€¯22.2 h (range from 26 h to 137 h). There is a great shortage of clinical university professors, and a generational change is essential. The current situation poses various challenges, including adapting to new teaching methods and technologies and promoting the presence of radiology in medical study plans, paying special attention to hospital practices, the Final Degree Project (FDP) and the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).

Gamification: Basic concepts and applications in radiology.

Gamification is the use of elements from games in non-game environments, such as education. It is an alternative educational focus that promotes students' motivation and participation in the learning process. Gamification had proven effective in training health professionals and can play an important role in diagnostic radiology training, both at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Gamification activities can be carried out in real environments, such as classrooms or session rooms, but there are also interesting online modalities that favor remote access and user management. The possibilities of gamification in virtual worlds to teach undergraduate students radiology are very promising and deserve to be explored in training residents. This article aims to review general concepts in gamification and to present the main types of gamification used in medical training, pointing out its applications and advantages and disadvantages and emphasizing experiences in radiology education.

Toxoplasmosis in cord blood transplantation recipients.

Toxoplasmosis is a devastating opportunistic infection that can affect immunocompromised patients such as cord blood transplantation (CBT) recipients. The clinical characteristics of 4 toxoplasmosis CBT patients treated at our institution are reviewed, together with 5 cases collected from the literature. The rate of toxoplasmosis in our hospital was 6% in CBT recipients and 0.2% in other types of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (P < 0.001). Five patients (56%) presented disseminated toxoplasmosis and 4 patients (44%) had localized infection in the central nervous system. In 5 of the 9 patients considered (56%), cytomegalovirus viral replication had been detected before the clinical onset of toxoplasmosis. Seven patients (78%) had previously developed graft-versus-host disease. All patients who exhibited disseminated disease died due to Toxoplasma infection. Pre-transplant serology was positive in 1 patient, negative in 3 patients, and not performed in another. Only 1 of these 5 patients with disseminated disease had received Toxoplasma prophylaxis with cotrimoxazole. It could be concluded that mortality in CBT patients with disseminated toxoplasmosis is unacceptably high. The negative results of serology in the majority of these cases, and its unspecific clinical presentation, makes diagnosis exceedingly difficult. Better diagnostic tests and prophylaxis strategy are needed in CBT recipients.

Medical students' perceptions of the impact of artificial intelligence in radiology.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse medical students' perceptions of the impact of artificial intelligence in radiology. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A structured questionnaire comprising 28 items organised into six sections was distributed to students of medicine in Spain in December 2019. RESULTS: A total of 341 students responded. Of these, 27 (7.9%) included radiology among their three main choices for specialization, and 51.9% considered that they clearly understood what artificial intelligence is. The overall rate of correct answers to the objective true-or-false questions about artificial intelligence was 70.7%. Whereas 75.9% expressed their disagreement with the hypothesis that artificial intelligence would replace radiologists, only 41.9% disagreed with the hypothesis that the demand for radiologists would decrease in the future. Only 36.7% expressed concerns about the role of artificial intelligence related to choosing radiology as a specialty. A greater proportion of students in the early years of medical school agreed with statements that radiologists accept artificial-intelligence-related technological changes and work with the industry to apply them as well as with statements about the need to include basic training about artificial intelligence in the medical school curriculum. CONCLUSIONS: The students surveyed are aware of the impact of artificial intelligence in daily life, but not of the current debate about its potential applications in radiology. In general, they think that artificial intelligence will revolutionise radiology without having an alarming effect on the employability of radiologists. The students surveyed think that it is necessary to provide basic training about artificial intelligence in undergraduate medical school programs.

Mónico Sánchez Moreno: A pioneer in radiologic technology.

Mónico Sánchez Moreno (1880-1961) was an important figure in the early years of electromedicine, rubbing elbows with world-class physicists like Nikola Tesla. Her main contribution to the field was the invention and commercialization of a portable X-ray generator, replacing the heavy transformer had been necessary to generate power with a lightweight portable device that could work with direct or alternating current at 220 or 125V. This device was easily adaptable to other applications in electromedicine, such as cauterization or disinfection. This indefatigable entrepreneur could have triumphed in America, but preferred to work toward furthering technological development in the land that she loved. Her efforts made it possible to have an affordable device made in Spain that would allow radiological examinations to be done in places where it would have been otherwise unthinkable. In conclusion, Mónico Sánchez Moreno was a self-made woman who deserves to be remembered for her pioneering role in portable radiology.

Challenges of Radiology education in the era of artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence is a branch of computer science that is generating great expectations in medicine and particularly in radiology. Artificial intelligence will change not only the way we practice our profession, but also the way we teach it and learn it. Although the advent of artificial intelligence has led some to question whether it is necessary to continue training radiologists, there seems to be a consensus in the recent scientific literature that we should continue to train radiologists and that we should teach future radiologists about artificial intelligence and how to exploit it. The acquisition of competency in artificial intelligence should start in medical school, be consolidated in residency programs, and be maintained and updated during continuing medical education. This article aims to describe some of the challenges that artificial intelligencve can pose in the different stages of training in radiology, from medical school through continuing medical education.

[Are secondary descriptors of headache useful in neuroimaging examinations? Results of a multicenter retrospective study of 1041 brain MRI studies]. / ¿Son útiles los descriptores secundarios de cefalea en las pruebas de neuroimagen? Resultados de un estudio retrospectivo multicéntrico de 1.041 resonancias magnéticas craneales.

INTRODUCTION: Headache is a common health problem in the general population. In clinical practice it is common to request neuroimaging examinations to rule out secondary headache, especially brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The aim of this study is to analyze the secondary descriptors of headache-associated symptoms in brain MRI studies to assess their usefulness as predictors of potential intracranial structural abnormalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective observational study of brain MRI studies performed due to headache in 6 centers in Andalusia between January 1 and May 30, 2019. The studies were performed on MRI machines with similar technical characteristics and imaging protocols, and were subjected to double reading by two neuroradiologists. Uni- and bivariate analyses were performed on the variables of interest: age, sex, headache-associated symptoms, and imaging findings. RESULTS: A total of 1041 patients who underwent brain MRI were included -mean age: 38.6 years (range: 3-86); 69.9% women-. In 737 (70.80%) cases there were no headache-associated symptoms and in the remaining patients (304 cases, 29.20%) there were headache-associated symptoms, the most frequent being: visual alterations, paresthesia, and vertigo and dizziness. Bivariate analyses showed no significant differences between groups. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that symptoms accompanying headache are not associated with a greater or lesser detection of intracranial structural abnormalities in MRI. Prospective studies that overcome the limitations of the present work are needed to verify this hypothesis.

TITLE: ¿Son útiles los descriptores secundarios de cefalea en las pruebas de neuroimagen? Resultados de un estudio retrospectivo multicéntrico de 1.041 resonancias magnéticas craneales.Introducción. La cefalea es un problema de salud frecuente en la población general. En la práctica clínica es común solicitar pruebas de neuroimagen para descartar una etiología secundaria, especialmente una resonancia magnética (RM) craneal. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar los descriptores secundarios de síntomas asociados a cefalea en estudios de RM craneal para valorar su utilidad como predictores de potenciales alteraciones orgánicas intracraneales. Materiales y métodos. Estudio retrospectivo observacional a partir de las RM de cráneo realizadas por cefalea en seis centros de Andalucía entre el 1 de enero y el 30 de mayo de 2019. Los estudios se realizaron en máquinas de RM de similares características técnicas y protocolos de imagen, y fueron sometidos a doble lectura por dos neurorradiólogos. Se realizaron análisis uni- y bivariantes de las variables de interés: edad, sexo, síntomas asociados a cefalea y hallazgos de imagen. Resultados. Se incluyó a 1.041 pacientes sometidos a RM craneal ­edad media: 38,6 años (rango: 3-86); 69,9% mujeres­. En 737 (70,8%) casos no existían síntomas asociados, y en los restantes pacientes (304 casos, 29,2%) sí, y los más frecuentes fueron: alteraciones visuales, parestesias, y vértigos y mareos. Los análisis bivariantes no mostraron diferencias significativas entre grupos. Conclusiones. Los hallazgos de este estudio sugieren que los síntomas acompañantes de cefalea no se asocian a una mayor o menor detección de alteraciones estructurales intracraneales en la RM. Es preciso realizar estudios prospectivos que superen las limitaciones del presente trabajo para verificar esta hipótesis.

[Online training tools in radiology]. / Herramientas de formación on-line en radiología.

The online resources offered on the Internet have become complements or even alternatives to traditional resources for acquiring new knowledge. Among other advantages, online training tools are accessible 24 hours a day from anywhere provided there is an internet connection. Furthermore, there is no limit to the number of simultaneous users of these resources, and users can communicate easily with the authors of the content regardless of where they are located. This article reviews the educational resources that are available on the Internet that can be useful for training in radiology. We consider that creating and promoting this type of tool should form part of the strategic plans of professional associations of radiologists.

Medical students' perceptions of the impact of artificial intelligence in radiology. / Percepciones de estudiantes de Medicina sobre el impacto de la inteligencia artificial en radiología.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze medical students' perceptions of the impact of artificial intelligence in radiology. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A structured questionnaire comprising 28 items organized into six sections was distributed to students of medicine in Spain in December 2019. RESULTS: A total of 341 students responded. Of these, 27 (7.9%) included radiology among their three main choices for specialization, and 51.9% considered that they clearly understood what artificial intelligence is. The overall rate of correct answers to the objective true-or-false questions about artificial intelligence was 70.7%. Whereas 75.9% expressed their disagreement with the hypothesis that artificial intelligence would replace radiologists, only 41.9% disagreed with the hypothesis that the demand for radiologists would decrease in the future. Only 36.7% expressed concerns about the role of artificial intelligence related to choosing radiology as a specialty. A greater proportion of students in the early years of medical school agreed with statements that radiologists accept artificial-intelligence-related technological changes and work with the industry to apply them as well as with statements about the need to include basic training about artificial intelligence in the medical school curriculum. CONCLUSIONS: The students surveyed are aware of the impact of artificial intelligence in daily life, but not of the current debate about its potential applications in radiology. In general, they think that artificial intelligence will revolutionize radiology without having an alarming effect on the employability of radiologists. The students surveyed think that it is necessary to provide basic training about artificial intelligence in undergraduate medical school programs.

Mónico Sánchez Moreno: a pioneer in radiologic technology. / Mónico Sánchez Moreno: un pionero de la tecnología radiológica.

Mónico Sánchez Moreno (1880-1961) was an important figure in the early years of electromedicine, rubbing elbows with world-class physicists like Nikola Tesla. Her main contribution to the field was the invention and commercialization of a portable X-ray generator, replacing the heavy transformer had been necessary to generate power with a lightweight portable device that could work with direct or alternating current at 220 or 125V. This device was easily adaptable to other applications in electromedicine, such as cauterization or disinfection. This indefatigable entrepreneur could have triumphed in America, but preferred to work toward furthering technological development in the land that she loved. Her efforts made it possible to have an affordable device made in Spain that would allow radiological examinations to be done in places where it would have been otherwise unthinkable. In conclusion, Mónico Sánchez Moreno was a self-made woman who deserves to be remembered for her pioneering role in portable radiology.

Challenges of Radiology education in the era of artificial intelligence. / Retos de la formación en radiología en la era de la inteligencia artificial.

Artificial intelligence is a branch of computer science that is generating great expectations in medicine and particularly in radiology. Artificial intelligence will change not only the way we practice our profession, but also the way we teach it and learn it. Although the advent of artificial intelligence has led some to question whether it is necessary to continue training radiologists, there seems to be a consensus in the recent scientific literature that we should continue to train radiologists and that we should teach future radiologists about artificial intelligence and how to exploit it. The acquisition of competency in artificial intelligence should start in medical school, be consolidated in residency programs, and be maintained and updated during continuing medical education. This article aims to describe some of the challenges that artificial intelligencve can pose in the different stages of training in radiology, from medical school through continuing medical education.

The beginnings of radiology in Malaga. / Los inicios de la radiología en Málaga.

On March 2, 1896, the local press in Malaga reported the discovery of X-rays, relating various news items about the use of X-rays and literature about Roentgen's discovery by journalists and other authors. Outstanding among these writings was a periodical directed at the administration and general public called Los Rayos X. Progressively, the first X-ray machines were installed in hospitals during this period, and the first installation in a private medical clinic took place in 1900. In Malaga, the assimilation and progression of the diagnostic and therapeutic use of radiology was slow and affected by peculiarities owing to the social, economic, and cultural circumstances of the period. Influential physicians willing to overcome resistance to advances were able to bring medical practice in Malaga to a level similar to that of other cities.

Doctoral theses in diagnostic imaging: a study of Spanish production between 1976 and 2011. / Las tesis doctorales en radiodiagnóstico: estudio de la producción española entre 1976 y 2011.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the production of doctoral theses in diagnostic imaging in Spain in the period comprising 1976 through 2011 with the aim of a) determining the number of theses and their distribution over time, b) describing the production in terms of universities and directors, and c) analyzing the content of the theses according to the imaging technique, anatomic site, and type of research used. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The TESEO database was searched for "radiología" and/or "diagnóstico por imagen" and for terms related to diagnostic imaging in the title of the thesis. RESULTS: A total of 1036 theses related to diagnostic imaging were produced in 37 Spanish universities (mean, 29.6 theses/year; range, 4-59). A total of 963 thesis directors were identified; 10 of these supervised 10 or more theses. Most candidates and directors were men, although since the 2000-2001 academic year the number of male and female candidates has been similar. The anatomic regions most often included in diagnostic imaging theses were the abdomen (22.5%), musculoskeletal system (21.8%), central nervous system (16.4%), and neck and face (15.6%). The imaging techniques most often included were ultrasonography in the entire period (25.5%) and magnetic resonance imaging in the last 5 years. Most theses (63.8%) were related to clinical research. CONCLUSIONS: Despite certain limitations, the TESEO database makes it possible to analyze the production of doctoral theses in Spain effectively. The annual mean production of theses in diagnostic imaging is higher than in other medical specialties. This analysis reflects the historic evolution of imaging techniques and research in radiology as well as the development of Spanish universities.

Possibilities of the three-dimensional virtual environment tridimensional Second Life® for training in radiology. / Posibilidades del entorno virtual tridimensional Second Life® para la formación en radiología.

Three-dimensional virtual environments enable very realistic ludic, social, cultural, and educational activities to be carried out online. Second Life® is one of the most well-known virtual environments, in which numerous training activities have been developed for healthcare professionals, although none about radiology. The aim of this article is to present the technical resources and educational activities that Second Life® offers for training in radiology based on our experience since 2011 with diverse training activities for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Second Life® is useful for carrying out radiology training activities online through remote access in an attractive scenario, especially for current generations of students and residents. More than 800 participants have reported in individual satisfaction surveys that their experiences with this approach have been interesting and useful for their training in radiology.