An audio visual teaching unit for radiology

Abstract

Radiology is a visual science. Proficiency in radiological interpretation can be attained only by experience and this includes seeing large numbers of normal and abnormal radiographs and being informed of the correct findings. Lectures alone have severe limitations. X-ray film libraries provide an excellent if somewhat dull source of concentrated experience. To a certain extent a student's progress depends on personal energy utilising this material and on his mentors' efforts in having collected and collated it. Since radiographs depict gross anatomy and macroscopic pathology in black-and-white X-ray appearances must be correlated with operative and autopsy findings and clinical problems they seek to elucidate. It is difficult to provide all this information, to preserve the correct sequence of events and demonstrate say an autopsy specimen all in an X-ray packet. One other difficulty is that few X-ray libraries can hope to be comprehensive even in radiological material. Films of paediatric interest are naturally at the children's hospital, obstetrical films at the women's and interesting chest radiographs at the thoracic unit and so on. Many other good films suitable for teaching belong to individuals rather than departments. Some years ago it was decided to convert all material suitable for teaching radiology to 2 × 2 in. slides. Most of this consisted of radiographs, but included colour transparencies of patients, pathological specimens and sections, graphs, diagrams, references and related data. Preparation and collection continue, the task being lessened considerably by help from colleagues.