Outstanding teaching: ‘Hands-on cross-sectional anatomy for oncological therapy’

To recognise innovative approaches to improving the quality of teaching, the Medical University of Graz has been awarding a special grant totalling 50,000 euros annually since 2023. One of the award-winning teaching projects is ‘Hands-on Cross-sectional Anatomy (CT/MRI/PET) for Oncological Therapy’ by Thomas Baptist Brunner, Head of the Department of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

In their anatomy studies, our students acquire knowledge of all the structures throughout the body. This valuable knowledge needs to be applied to modern imaging techniques, namely computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET). To achieve this, the Department of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology has established a Special Study Module (SSM), which is designed not only to facilitate this transition but also to teach students about pathological changes caused by tumours. All of this is ultimately placed within the interdisciplinary context of oncology. The central element here is the radiotherapy planning software, which enables students to work through this material independently under supervision.

From a didactic perspective, the SSM is divided into three modules that build on one another: cross-sectional anatomy, cross-sectional tumour pathology and interdisciplinary cross-sectional oncology. The individual teaching units are arranged so that, within each of these modules, the content progresses from simple to more complex topics. This structure is repeated for the other two modules, creating a didactic learning spiral in which all organ systems of the body are covered in each module. The respective blocks are structured so that two students work hands-on on a laptop with a dataset comprising CT, MRI and PET scans, initially attempting independently to draw (segment) the relevant structures – that is, to define them in three dimensions. In the subsequent seminar, the more challenging aspects are highlighted using example images. Armed with this knowledge, students move straight on to the second round of segmentation, during which they refine their work precisely in
these areas. To quantify the results, the segmented structures are compared with the gold standard provided by an expert. This is done using additional software that statistically analyses the correspondence between three-dimensional structures. At the end of each module, students must complete a digital assessment designed to highlight their strengths and weaknesses and to motivate them. Even after the first module, the students were able to achieve excellent results. By the end of the second module, the participants’ skills had already been consolidated to such an extent that they could have worked in a clinical setting.