Phantom study to determine radiation exposure to medical personnel involved in ERCP fluoroscopy and its reduction through equipment and behavior modifications.

Objective: The aim of this work is to evaluate the potential radiation exposure to medical personnel by comparing results from phantom studies of two different fluoroscopic units used for ERCP, and to determine which equipment or behavior modification can reduce radiation exposure.

Methods: Radiation exposures using an opaque tissue equivalent chest phantom with an abdominal insert were performed on a stationary dedicated fluoroscopy unit and a mobile C-arm unit, comparing varying equipment manipulations. Scatter radiation was recorded at 1) the patients' head, 2) where the endoscopist stands, and 3) where the equipment personnel stands.

Innovative testing method for an integrated radiology-histology curriculum.

A module of radiology instruction was incorporated into an existing histology course for first-year medical students (n = 177). An innovative testing methodology for assessing the instructional effectiveness of the integrated radiology-histology module was developed and tested. Test items were designed to measure the students' ability to integrate the two disciplines successfully.