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Medical specialties

Radiology Diploma

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A decision-focused diploma in clinical radiology: choosing the right test, using radiation, contrast and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) safely, writing reports whose conclusions change management, and applying the UK and European guidance behind everyday imaging, with US differences flagged where they matter.

Twenty-five weekly sessions across five modules take you from safe and appropriate imaging, through emergency, cancer and body-system imaging with computed tomography (CT), MRI, ultrasound and the reporting and data systems (RADS) used to score findings, to image-guided intervention, quality and digital tools in reporting, taught live by practising specialists you can question.

Course director
To be announced
Format
25 live weekly sessions on Zoom, in 5 modules
Dates
Confirmed when enrolment opens

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An MRI scanner with its patient table and head coil in a quiet scan room.
Image: MRI scanner by Walter Davies via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Who it is for

Senior trainees, fellows and early-career consultants in clinical radiology, and the emergency, acute and specialist clinicians who request and act on imaging, worldwide.

The programme

25 one-hour sessions in 5 modules, each with its learning objectives. This is the draft programme: the course director reviews and refines it before enrolment opens, so session titles may change.

Module 1 · Sessions 1 to 5Safe and appropriate imaging

  1. 1. Choosing the right test: justification and referral guidelines

    • Apply the legal justification and authorisation rules for medical exposures to a referral before it is accepted
    • Use referral guidelines to choose the test that answers the clinical question
    • Decline or redirect a low-value request and explain the reason to the referrer
    • Compare UK referral guidance with the US appropriateness criteria where they differ

  2. 2. Radiation dose, optimisation and pregnancy

    • Explain the radiation risk of common examinations to a patient in plain numbers
    • Compare local doses with national diagnostic reference levels and act on outliers
    • Manage an imaging request for a patient who is or may be pregnant
    • Choose techniques that lower dose for children and for patients who need repeat imaging

  3. 3. Contrast media safety

    • Assess a patient's risk before iodinated or gadolinium contrast and decide whether to proceed
    • Recognise and treat an acute contrast reaction, including anaphylaxis
    • Advise on metformin, dialysis timing and previous reactions using current guidance
    • Manage contrast extravasation and document it correctly

  4. 4. MRI safety

    • Screen a patient for MRI and identify contraindications and conditional devices
    • Apply manufacturer conditions to scan a patient with an MR-conditional implant safely
    • Describe the controls that prevent projectile, burn and quench injuries
    • Plan safe MRI for a sedated or critically ill patient

  5. 5. Reporting, communication and learning from discrepancies

    • Write a report whose conclusion answers the clinical question and states the next step
    • Escalate critical, urgent and unexpected findings through a reliable fail-safe route
    • Issue an addendum that corrects an error transparently
    • Run a discrepancy case review that focuses on learning rather than blame
Module 2 · Sessions 6 to 10Acute and emergency imaging

  1. 6. Major trauma imaging

    • Decide when whole-body imaging is indicated in adults and children with major trauma
    • Produce a structured primary survey report that puts life-threatening injuries first
    • Select spinal imaging in line with national guidance
    • Recognise the injuries most often missed on trauma imaging

  2. 7. Head injury, stroke and acute neuroimaging

    • Apply national head injury criteria to decide who needs a scan and how quickly
    • Interpret angiography and perfusion imaging to support thrombectomy decisions
    • Identify causes of intracranial haemorrhage that need further imaging
    • Decide when urgent MRI adds to the first scan in acute neurology

  3. 8. The acute chest: pulmonary embolism and aortic emergencies

    • Choose the imaging pathway for suspected pulmonary embolism, including in pregnancy
    • Report signs of right ventricular strain that change management
    • Recognise acute aortic syndromes and their complications
    • Communicate a time-critical chest finding to the treating team

  4. 9. The acute abdomen

    • Choose between ultrasound, computed tomography and MRI for acute abdominal pain by age, sex and pregnancy status
    • Identify imaging features of bowel ischaemia and closed-loop obstruction
    • Grade acute pancreatitis and its local complications using the revised Atlanta classification
    • Report suspected renal colic with the findings that decide treatment

  5. 10. Paediatric emergencies and suspected physical abuse

    • Choose imaging for common paediatric emergencies that keeps dose as low as possible
    • Recognise fracture patterns and intracranial findings that raise concern for physical abuse
    • Plan and report a skeletal survey to national standards
    • Describe the radiologist's safeguarding and court responsibilities
Module 3 · Sessions 11 to 15Cancer imaging

  1. 11. Lung nodules and lung cancer screening

    • Manage an incidental pulmonary nodule using British Thoracic Society and Fleischner Society guidance
    • Explain how UK targeted lung screening selects and follows participants
    • Compare Lung-RADS categories with UK screening management
    • Report incidental findings on screening scans without generating unnecessary tests

  2. 12. Cancer staging and response assessment

    • Stage common cancers on computed tomography and MRI using TNM
    • Measure tumour response with the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST 1.1) and recognise when the immunotherapy version applies
    • Apply the Lugano classification to lymphoma staging and response on positron emission tomography (PET-CT)
    • Present imaging at a multidisciplinary team meeting so that it informs the decision

  3. 13. Prostate and liver imaging with structured scoring systems

    • Score prostate MRI with PI-RADS v2.1 and state the biopsy recommendation
    • Categorise liver observations in at-risk patients with LI-RADS
    • Characterise common benign focal liver lesions and decide who needs follow-up
    • Explain where UK pathways differ from US scoring-system practice

  4. 14. Breast imaging

    • Assign BI-RADS categories to mammography, ultrasound and MRI findings
    • Choose imaging for a woman presenting with a breast symptom according to her age
    • Advise on supplemental screening for women with extremely dense breasts
    • Explain how US breast density notification differs from UK practice

  5. 15. Incidental findings

    • Manage an incidental adrenal mass using size, density and history
    • Classify a cystic renal mass with the Bosniak 2019 classification
    • Decide which incidental thyroid nodules and pancreatic cysts need follow-up
    • Write follow-up recommendations that are proportionate and traceable
Module 4 · Sessions 16 to 20Imaging across the body

  1. 16. Neuroradiology beyond the emergency

    • Apply MRI criteria for dissemination in space and time in suspected multiple sclerosis
    • Recommend MRI protocols for diagnosing and monitoring multiple sclerosis
    • Decide when headache or back pain needs imaging
    • Recognise metastatic spinal cord compression and report it as an emergency

  2. 17. Musculoskeletal imaging

    • Identify fractures that are commonly missed on plain films
    • Recognise imaging features of a bone or soft tissue lesion that needs urgent sarcoma referral
    • Report MRI of the knee and shoulder in a way that guides management
    • Distinguish infection from neuropathic change in the diabetic foot

  3. 18. Cardiac and vascular imaging

    • Select patients with stable chest pain for coronary angiography by computed tomography
    • Report coronary imaging with a stenosis grade and plaque description that guides treatment
    • Identify the indications where cardiac MRI changes management
    • Plan imaging surveillance of aortic aneurysm

  4. 19. Gynaecological and obstetric imaging

    • Risk-stratify an adnexal mass using O-RADS
    • Protocol and report MRI for suspected deep endometriosis
    • Interpret ultrasound in suspected ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage
    • Recognise MRI signs of placenta accreta spectrum

  5. 20. Gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary and urological imaging

    • Decide when colonography by computed tomography is an appropriate alternative to colonoscopy
    • Manage gallbladder polyps by size and risk factors
    • Report MR enterography for disease activity and complications in Crohn's disease
    • Stage rectal cancer on MRI with the features the surgeon needs
Module 5 · Sessions 21 to 25Intervention, quality and the service

  1. 21. Image-guided biopsy and drainage

    • Obtain valid consent for an image-guided procedure, including material risks
    • Plan anticoagulant and antiplatelet management by procedural bleeding risk
    • Choose ultrasound or computed tomography guidance for a biopsy or drainage
    • Recognise and manage early complications such as bleeding and pneumothorax

  2. 22. Interventional radiology in emergencies

    • Identify patients whose bleeding should go to embolisation rather than surgery
    • Describe the imaging findings that guide an embolisation plan
    • Arrange urgent drainage for an obstructed and infected kidney
    • Explain how a regional interventional radiology rota should work

  3. 23. Quality, audit and service standards

    • Measure a department against a national quality standard for imaging
    • Design an audit with a standard, a measure and a re-audit
    • Set safe reporting turnaround targets for urgent and routine work
    • Govern outsourced and teleradiology reporting

  4. 24. Artificial intelligence and digital tools in radiology

    • Appraise the evidence for an artificial intelligence tool before it is deployed
    • Explain the regulatory duties that apply to imaging software in Europe
    • Set up local monitoring that detects drift and failure after deployment
    • Recognise automation bias and design reporting workflows that limit it

  5. 25. Complex case panel and running a reporting service

    • Apply the course to complex cases in a panel discussion
    • Prioritise a reporting worklist safely under pressure
    • Contribute imaging expertise to a multidisciplinary meeting
    • Build a personal plan for continuing development in radiology

What the diploma includes

  • 25 live sessions on Zoom, one evening a week, with recordings for the weeks you miss.
  • Practising specialists teaching live, so you can put your questions to them.
  • Weekly MCQs and a final written assessment.
  • A digital certificate carrying your final classification.

Lead or teach the Radiology Diploma

We are looking for a course director and faculty from the specialty. Sessions are one hour in the UK evening, live on Zoom, and paid.

Apply to teach