CT, MRI & PET/CT: Clinical Support and Technical Training Course
1Summary
A CT scanner that drifts out of calibration, or an MRI technician who cannot explain an artefact to the radiologist, slows down every patient behind them in the queue. This 13-day Training Course by the Arab British Fellowship Training Academy is built to close that gap, pairing the technical side of CT, MRI, and PET/CT — physics, components, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting — with the clinical support skills needed to work alongside radiologists and patients directly.
Participants move from system fundamentals through each modality in depth, then into cross-modality fault diagnosis and the communication and patient-preparation skills that make technical support genuinely useful in a clinical setting.
2Objectives and target group
- Explain the technical differences between CT, MRI, and PET/CT and their role in clinical decision-making.
- Operate, calibrate, and perform preventive maintenance across all three imaging modalities.
- Diagnose hardware, software, and image-quality issues and resolve them with minimal downtime.
- Apply advanced PET/CT knowledge to oncology imaging and stay current with emerging trends.
- Communicate effectively with clinical staff and prepare patients for imaging procedures.
Target Audience
- Radiologic technologists and technicians working with CT, MRI, or PET/CT.
- Medical imaging engineers and clinical engineers supporting imaging equipment.
- Healthcare support staff in diagnostic imaging centres.
- Healthcare managers seeking working knowledge of diagnostic imaging technologies.
3Course Content
Module 1: Supporting Diagnostic Imaging in the Clinic — Why It Matters
- Types of medical imaging technologies and their role in clinical decision-making.
- Radiation and MRI safety principles, and international regulatory standards for imaging.
Module 2: Imaging System Components and Configurations
- Basic anatomy and functional components of CT, MRI, and PET/CT systems.
- Different system configurations and selecting the right one for clinical needs.
Module 3: CT Systems — Physics, Operation and Preventive Maintenance
- How CT scanners generate cross-sectional images, and key scan parameters.
- Troubleshooting hardware and software issues, and scheduled maintenance tasks.
Module 4: MRI Systems — Principles, Components and Image Optimisation
- Magnetic resonance physics, MRI components, and image formation.
- Troubleshooting and preventive care, and improving signal-to-noise ratio and image quality.
Module 5: MRI Clinical Applications and Advanced Techniques
- MRI's role in neurological and musculoskeletal diagnosis, and functional MRI (fMRI).
- Advanced techniques such as diffusion and perfusion imaging, and future trends.
Module 6: PET/CT — Principles, Clinical Significance and Maintenance
- Integration of PET and CT, tracer use, and advantages over standalone modalities.
- Troubleshooting, quality control, and preventive maintenance for PET/CT systems.
Module 7: Advanced PET/CT in Oncology and Emerging Trends
- PET/CT for early cancer detection, staging, and treatment monitoring.
- Developments in tracer technology and new applications in research and practice.
Module 8: Diagnosing and Resolving Technical Issues Across Modalities
- Identifying hardware malfunctions and software glitches across CT, MRI, and PET/CT.
- Building maintenance logs and troubleshooting protocols for consistent response.
Module 9: Delivering Clinical Support — Communication and Patient Preparation
- Communication strategies with clinical staff to minimise downtime.
- Preparing and positioning patients, managing contrast agents, and maintaining ethical standards.