Blended Learning UK

Course Overview

This 16 week online CPD course will cover level 1 knowledge and application of theory, mapped to the UK Royal College of Radiologist's curriculum for breast ultrasound for non-radiologists. It is intended to provide theoretical grounding in the principles and practice of clinical breast ultrasound for practising breast clinicians as a basis to start to incorporate supervised breast ultrasound into your own clinical practice.

Course format

The course will commence with one week of background reading, followed by 14 weeks of active on-line participation split between seven topics. The final week will enable consolidation of knowledge.

Topics Covered

• Introduction and writing a report
• The normal breast
• Benign breast disease, infections and B3 lesions
• Breast cancer
• Axillary lymph nodes
• Ultrasound-guided interventions
• Practical ultrasound experience

Learning outcomes

• Discuss the relevant physics and technology basis for US practice
• Demonstrate competent practical US technique
• Compose structured and comprehensive US reporting for medical records
• Describe and recognise the US appearance of the normal breast
• Recognise and evaluate US appearance of the abnormal breast (benign, infection, B3, cancers)
• Interpret US appearances of the post-operative breast (scarring, implants, complications)

By the end of this module you will be able to demonstrate:

• An understanding of the strengths, weaknesses and limitations of breast ultrasound
• An understanding of the indications for and the importance of ultrasound in the triple assessment process
• An awareness of the interdependency and significance of mammographic and ultrasound appearances
• The ability to perform a thorough ultrasound examination of the breast and axilla, to recognise normal anatomy and physiological variation as detailed above and to confidently exclude the presence of a sonographic lesion within the breast
• The recognition of established criteria for lesion characterisation
• Identification and discrimination between clearly normal and suspicious axillary lymph nodes
• The ability to write a detailed report of the ultrasound findings with grading, differential diagnosis, conclusion and recommendation for further management
• The recognition of personal limitations and ability to ask for more expert advice if required

Target Audience

• Consultant Breast surgeons
• Senior trainees in breast surgery
• Radiographers
• Physician Associates

Course fees: £500

Qualifications Available

CPD certification from the University of East Anglia

• 80% and above 40 CPD hours
• 60-79% 20 CPD hours
• 40-59% 10 CPD hours
• 39% and below No CPD hours

Practical Training Session (additional charge) (Date TBC)

A face to face practical study day will compliment your online theoretical learning, and you will be encouraged to maintain a reflective logbook available via our partner organisation, Logitbox.

Previous practical training sessions have been recorded and are available as part of this course content.

For participants who wish to gain some hands on training, a practical teaching session is run in the UK by Blended Learning UK. This one day course will demonstrate basic practical ultrasound techniques, and provide the skills basis for:

• Basic breast ultrasound skills on live models
• Ultrasound guided cyst drainage
• Ultrasound guided biopsy