Physics for radiology

[athelas314]

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I am an undergrad thinking of doing radiology, and while I know it's a long way off and my interests may well change, I was wondering what kind of physics radiology residents are expected to know. EM? Quantum? Optics? Thermo?

 

[Neuronix]

The bare basics required to operate imaging modalities. Any undergrad course in physics will be far above that level.

http://www.revisemri.com/

See the Q&A and forums sections for example questions. If you really want to learn that stuff as an undergrad, great! But, it will only help you if you end up doing basic science imaging research (like me).

 

[BlackSails]

Research requires more advanced physics and math. If you wanted to invent the fourier transform MRI (which is already made), you would need to know quantum mechanics and advanced calculus. Now that I think about it, its probably the case that most advances in radiology are not made by MDs.

 

[Neuronix]

probably the case that most advances in radiology are not made by MDs.

I find this a rather silly statement. Most physicists don't really understand the body and disease. Most clinicians don't really understand MR physics. The advancement of Radiology is due to advances by all groups involved, basic, translational, and clinical. Note that even in basic research, the advancements are due to experienced people within each subgroup. In basic research of MR for example electrical engineers, computer scientists, physicists, bioengineers, chemists, etc all do their part to make MR work together and find advances in MR. No one person is so educated and skilled that they can contribute to all of these fields in their work.

On the clinical side, translational and applications work is done by specialists in all areas of Radiology. An Interventional Radiologist does most of the translational research in interventional Radiology for example, and so on...

 

[BlackSails]

I find this a rather silly statement.

I was talking mostly about imaging.

X-rays were discovered by a physicist. NMR was invented by chemists. Ultrasound was created by physicists. Medical applications might have been invented by MDs (although they still lack the mathematical background to really develop these technologies).

 

[bosky]

I agree, almost all important advances in radiology have not been made by MD's. The background is too technical.

Re: original question, for MRI most residents seem to understand T1, T2 and k-space concepts for about 30 minutes before and after the physics exam. Otherwise, as a resident, it seems enough just to know which type of contrast you're looking at and which stage the blood is in...

This means only a basic Newtonian explaination for MRI is required, no quantum mechanics. Physics I and II with calculus are more than sufficient for this as an undergraduate.

 

[athelas314]

Thanks a lot, guys.