Chap 20 - Radiology & Nuclear Med Textbook Flashcards
angiography
X-ray image (angiogram) of blood vessels and heart chambers is obtained after contrast is injected through a catheter into the appropriate blood vessel or heart chamber.
cholangiography
X-ray imaging after injection of contrast into bile ducts.
digital subtraction angiography (DSA)
X-ray image of contrast-injected blood vessels is produced by taking two x-ray pictures (the first without contrast) and using a computer to subtract obscuring shadows from the second image.
hysterosalpingography
X-ray record of the endometrial cavity and fallopian tubes is obtained after injection of contrast material through the vagina and into the endocervical canal
myelography
X-ray imaging of the spinal cord (myel/o) after injection of contrast agent into the subarachnoid space surrounding the spinal cord
pyelography
X-ray imaging of the renal pelvis and urinary tract.
computed tomography (CT)
Diagnostic x-ray procedure whereby a cross-sectional image of a specific body segment
contrast studies
Radiopaque materials (contrast media) are injected to obtain contrast with surrounding tissue when shown on the x-ray film.
gamma camera
Machine to detect gamma rays emitted from radiopharmaceuticals during scanning for diagnostic purposes
gamma rays
High-energy rays emitted by radioactive substances in tracer studies.
half-life
Time required for a radioactive substance to lose half its radioactivity by disintegration.
interventional radiology
Therapeutic or diagnostic procedures performed by a radiologist.
in vitro
Process, test, or procedure is performed, measured, or observed outside a living organism, often in a TEST TUBE.
in vivo
Process, test, or procedure is performed, measured, or observed IN THE BODY
ionization
Transformation of electrically neutral substances into electrically charged particles.
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Magnetic field and radio waves produce sagittal, coronal, and axial images of the body.
nuclear medicine
use radioactive substances (radionuclides) in the diagnosis of disease.
positron emission tomography (PET)
Positron-emitting radioactive substances given intravenously create a cross-sectional image of cellular metabolism based
radioimmunoassay
Test combines radioactive chemicals and antibodies to detect minute quantities of substances in a patient’s blood.
radioisotope
Radioactive form of an element substance; radionuclide.
radiolabeled compound
Radiopharmaceutical; used in nuclear medicine studies.
radiology
Medical specialty concerned with the study of x-rays and their use in the diagnosis of disease.
radiolucent
Permitting the passage of x-rays.
radionuclide
Radioactive form of an element that gives off energy in the form of radiation; radioisotope.
radiopaque
Obstructing the passage of x-rays. Radiopaque structures appear white on the x-ray images.
radiopharmaceutical
Radioactive drug (radionuclide plus chemical) that is administered safely for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes
scan
Image of an area, organ or tissue of the body obtained from ultrasonography, radioactive tracer studies, CT, or MRI.
scintigraphy
Diagnostic nuclear medicine test using radiopharmaceuticals and gamma cameras to create images.
single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)
Radioactive tracer is injected intravenously and a computer
reconstructs a 3D image based on a composite of many views.
tagging
Attaching a radionuclide to a chemical and following its path in the body.
tracer studies
Radionuclides are used as tags, or labels, attached to chemicals and followed as they travel through the body.
ultrasonography (US, U/S)
Diagnostic technique that projects and retrieves high-frequency sound waves as they echo off parts of the body.
ultrasound transducer
Handheld device that sends and receives ultrasound signals.
uptake
Rate of absorption of a radionuclide into an organ or tissue.
ventilation-perfusion studies
Radiopharmaceutical is inhaled (ventilation) and injected intravenously (perfusion) followed by imaging its passage through the respiratory tract.
is/o
same
pharmaceut/o
drug
radi/o
x-rays
son/o
sound
therapeut/o
treatment
vitr/o
glass
viv/o
life
-gram
record
-graphy
process of recording
-lucent
to shine
-opaque
obscure
echo-
a repeated sound
ultra-
beyond
Radiologist
MD - Reads x-rays and determines radiation therapy dosing
Nuclear physician
MD - Reads and orders Scans
Radiologic technologists
Radiographers, nuclear medicine technologists, sonographers
Characteristic of X-rays
- Expose photographic plates
- Penetrate substances
- Invisible
- Travel in straight lines
- Scatter
- Ionization
Posteroanterior (PA) view
posterior source to anterior detector
Anteroposterior (AP) view
anterior source to posterior detector
Lateral view
in left lateral view, source at right of patient, to detector at left of patient
Oblique view
source slanting direction at angle from perpendicular plane
Abduction
movement away from the midline
Adduction
movement toward the midline
Eversion
turning outward
Extension
lengthening or straightening a flexed limb
Flexion
bending a part of the body
Lateral decubitus
lying down on the side
Prone
lying on the belly (face down)
Recumbent
lying down (prone or supine)
Supine
lying on the back (face up)
Obstructing the passage of x-rays
radiopaque
Radionuclides/radioisotopes
Alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays
Analysis of blood and urine
Radioimmunoassay (RIA) uses radioactive chemicals and antibodies to detect hormones and drugs in the patient’s blood (for example, digitalis detection, hypothyroidism in newborns).
Radioactive substance given directly to patient to evaluate organ function or image
- Radiopharmaceutical (labeled compound) concentrates in organ
- Scintiscanner (gamma camera) detection instrument produces picture (scintiscan)
bone scan
Technetium-99m (Tc-99m) is used to label phosphate substances and then is injected intravenously. The phosphate compound is taken up preferentially by bone
Lymphoscintigraphy
pictures (scintigrams) of the lymphatic system. A radiotracer (radioactive isotope) is injected under the skin or deeper using a small needle. A gamma camera then takes a series of images of an area of the body.
Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
images of the distribution of radioactivity (through emission of positrons) in a region of the body. It is similar to the CT scan, but radioisotopes are used instead of contrast
and x-rays. The radionuclides are incorporated (by intravenous injection) into the tissues to be scanned, and an image is made showing where the radionuclide is or is not being metabolized.
PET/CT scan
combines PET and CT techniques to produce a more accurate image than PET or CT alone.
Single-photon emission 3D computed tomography (SPECT)
intravenous injection of radioactive tracer (such as Tc-99m) and the computer reconstruction of a 3D image based on a composite of many views. Clinical applications include detecting liver tumors, detecting cardiac ischemia, and evaluating bone disease of the spine.
Technetium Tc-99m sestamibi (Cardiolite) scan
radiopharmaceutical is injected intravenously and traced to heart muscle. An exercise tolerance test (ETT) is used with it for an ETT-MIBI scan.
Thallium 201 (Tl) scan
injected intravenously to evaluate myocardial perfusion. A high concentration of TL-201 is present in well-perfused heart muscle cells, but infarcted or scarred myocardium does not take up any thallium, showing up as “cold spots.”
Thyroid scan
iodine radionuclide, usually iodine-123 (I-123), is administered orally, and the scan reveals the size, shape, and position of the thyroid gland.
PET Scan
- Radioisotopes (emission of positrons) instead of contrast x-rays
- Intravenous injection
- Concentrates radioisotopes in tissues where the radionuclide is or is not being metabolized
- Useful in treating stroke, epilepsy, Alzheimer disease, brain tumors, abdominal and pulmonary malignancies
SPECT
- Intravenous injection of radioactive tracer
- Computer reconstruction of 3-D image based on many views
- Detects liver tumors, cardiac ischemia, diseases of bone and spine
DICOM
Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine — is the international standard for medical images and related information (ISO 12052). It defines the formats and protocols for medical images that can be exchanged with the data and quality necessary for clinical use.
urography
recording x-ray images of urinary tract after adding contrast
fluoroscopy
x-rays and fluorescent screen to produce real-time video images
Uses radioplaque barium
radiofrequency ablation
removal or tumors and tissues
CT vs. MRI
bones
chest lesions, pneumonia
brain bleed - trauma, ruptured arteries
spinal cord, brain tumors
joints, tendons, ligaments
liver masses
head, neck lesions
radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU)
assess the function of the thyroid gland (such as hyperthyroidism)
radioactive iodine, sensor placed over thyroid gland, detects gamma rays emitted from radioactive tracer
18F-FDG
Fluorodeoxyglucose - radiopharmaceutical used in a PET scan
Estrogen receptor assay
test for the presence of a hormone receptor on breast cancer cells
Tomography
viewing in slices
IVP
intravenous pyelogram
