Quizes and Spot cases for the FAST rad-resident...

What with the sudden increase in the number of Radiology Quiz competitions in town,  I though of writing about some ways that may help the budding radquizist!

We have a great trend in our hospital; we are trained to be FAST(pun intended)!;)

Everyday we  have "Case of the Day" on our departmental intranet. The answers are displayed at the end of the day. Then we have monthly long cases and quizes(which were timed). This makes everyone see a lot many more cases in their stipulated residency period, than they would otherwise..

During my residency all of us used to sit together and go through the "teaching files"- TF collection. It was a lot of fun -who gets the diagnosis first? who describes it the best? even who puts the films in the view-box fastest!!!

To those who do not have a good "TF" collection in their institutes, no reason to fret..Plenty of material available on the net. Some useful sites:

http://3s.acr.org/cip/

http://www.auntminnie.com/index.aspx?sec=edu_n&sub=cases

https://www2.rsna.org/timssnet/store/rsna_customsearchaction.cfm?productclass=COD

http://caseoftheday.org/

http://www.radquiz.com/

http://radiopaedia.org/encyclopaedia/quizzes/

http://www.radiologymasterclass.co.uk/

http://www.appliedradiology.com/quizzes/

http://www.radiologyassistant.nl/

http://www.learningradiology.com/quizzes/tocquiz.htm

http://radiologysigns.tumblr.com/quiz

http://www.radrounds.com/notes/Radiology_Cases_and_Images

http://rad.usuhs.edu/medpix/parent.php3?mode=cow_sorter#pic

http://www.refindia.net/ref/quiz/

And some interesting radiology stories with quintessential human touch from Bhavin Sir's blog...

http://radiologystories.com/

To be FAST has its glamour...Having said that, its not necessarily the best deal for the patient.

To be accurate is more important for the radiologist...And finally radiology cases in actual life are not quiz cases with a single diagnosis, often there is more to it, than what meets the eye.

So, as RR sir wisely says, keep looking...

Essentials for DNB practicals

This is a post I am writing amidst frantic calls from juniors about
"what to read for the DNB practicals" ?

First of all, this Primary/ Secondary/ Tertiary(post MD) ;) classification for DNB practical aspirants is pointless. At the end of the day I believe what matters is what you have learned about radiology in the 3 years of your residency and a rational examiner. The only reason why apparently post MD candidates (seem to ) do better is because of their bindaas attitude to the exam...

So don't be biased or unnecessarily tensed...Its just another exam...An opportunity to see more interesting cases and talk with even more interesting people..

This is a gist what I did for my practicals (in PGI chandigarh 2012) :

1. Read basic physics stuff like cassettes, films, tubes, contrast, etc (Trust me its really volatile, even if you have read it for theory). This is something which is invariably asked to every examinee.   ALL EXAMINERS CONSIDER THIS "BASIC".
2. See as many cases as possible. So even if your institute doesn't have a TF collection, there is a whole universe of radiology cases online...All you have to do is beckon google devta and every possible diagnostic case can be viewed. Plus there are a whole lot of site with " radiology cases "and "radiology case of the days" to see. ("to be googled"). [Separate blogpost on top sites will take some time..]. THIS WILL HELP YOU TREMENDOUSLY FOR SPOTS (Fast and accurate diagnosis)
3. Most important thing for cases: See all images (there is a reason they gave you that tiny USG film/ or the delayed film). Read the clinical details(if provided)

Generally there is only one diagnosis.

Time yourself, don't spend unnecessarily long time on one case which may not be worth it.

If you get one finding, keep looking there may be more...

Write your findings as you would write any report. Suggest any additional radiological investigations.

Do not waste your time writing about the pathophysiology(unless asked)

When presenting your case:

Start describing as soon as you put up the films [PUT UP THE FILMS CORRECTLY]. STOP  only when the examiner decides he has had enough...!!

First of all TALK...Answer the questions raised by the examiner to your best ability. Do not hessitate to ask them to repeat if you don't understand. Agree with them eventually if your justification loses ground...

LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST : wish you examiners at the start and end of the exam...THANK YOU.

ALL THE BEST FOR THE PRACTICALS!!!

Where to begin?

I bet every budding and established radiologist has asked this question in their lifetime- "What should I read?"

As a smug first year resident I decided I would NEVER ask this question. I took inane pride in the fact that obviously there was so much to read that there was no point asking...

Then I realised that everyone considered me a huge snob and it gave all seniors immense pleasure to discourse on what is the best way to go about things. This "advice" ranged from mind-boggling to mundane...

However for those of you out there who are keen to learn ( but afraid to ask...I may add) heres something I enjoyed reading as a beginner:

Fundamentals of Skeletal Radiology by Clyde A. Helms.

USP: 1. SIZE

2. For the sheer style of writing!

3. Concise yet an amazing insight into the field of skeletal radiology

Chest Roentgenology by Benjamin Felson

USP:

1.Like Braunwald to Heart; Felson to chest radiology

2. Our boss used to say - "Read the book cover to cover & then twice over"

3.Get ur Fundas here...

More in coming posts...

Your experiences and views are invited...