Chapter 20 Radio vocabulary

Question 1

computed tomography (CT)

Answer 1

Diagnostic x-ray procedure that produces a cross-sectional image of a specific body segment

Question 2

contrast studies

Answer 2

Radiopaque materials are injected to obtain contrast with surrounding tissue when shown on x-ray film

Question 3

gamma camera

Answer 3

Machine to detect gamma rays emitted from radiopharmaceuticals

Question 4

gamma rays

Answer 4

High-energy rays emitted by radioactive substances in tracer studies

Question 5

half-life

Answer 5

Time required for a radioactive substance to lose half its radioactivity by disintegration

Question 6

interventional radiology

Answer 6

Therapeutic or diagnostic procedures performed by a radiologist

Question 7

in vitro

Answer 7

Process, test, or procedure performed, measured, or observed outside a living organism

Question 8

in vivo

Answer 8

Process, test, or procedure is performed, measured, or observed within a living organism

Question 9

ionization

Answer 9

Transformation of electrically neutral substances into electrically charged particles

Question 10

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Answer 10

Use of magnetic field and radio waves to produce sagittal, coronal, and axial images of the body

Question 11

nuclear medicine

Answer 11

Medical specialty that studies uses of radioactive substances in diagnosis of disease

Question 12

positron emission tomography (PET

Answer 12

Use of positron-emitting radioactive substances given intravenously to create a cross-sectional image of cellular metabolism

Question 13

radioimmunoassay

Answer 13

Test that combines radioactive chemicals and antibodies to detect minute quantities of substances in a patient’s blood

Question 14

radioisotope

Answer 14

Radioactive form of an element ; radionuclide

Question 15

radiolabeled compound

Answer 15

Radiopharmaceutical; used in nuclear medicine studies

Question 16

radiology

Answer 16

Medical specialty concerned with the study of x-rays and their use in diagnosis of disease

Question 17

radiolucent

Answer 17

Permitting the passage of x-rays

Question 18

radionuclide

Answer 18

Radioactive form of an element; radioisotope

Question 19

• radiopaque

Answer 19

Obstructing the passage of x-rays

Question 20

• radiopharmaceutical

Answer 20

Radioactive drug used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes

Question 21

• scan

Answer 21

Image of an area, organ or tissue of the body obtained from ultrasound, radioactive tracer studies, CT, or MRI

Question 22

• scintigraphy

Answer 22

Diagnostic nuclear medicine test using radiopharmaceuticals and gamma cameras to create images

Question 23

single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)

Answer 23

Radioactive tracer is injected intravenously and a computer reconstructs a 3D-image based on a composite of many views

Question 24

tagging

Answer 24

Attaching a radionuclide to a chemical and following its path in the body

Question 25

tracer studies

Answer 25

Use of radionuclide tags attached to chemicals and followed as they travel through the body

Question 26

ultrasonography (US, U/S)

Answer 26

Diagnostic technique that projects and retrieves high-frequency sound waves as they echo off body parts

Question 27

ultrasound transducer

Answer 27

Handheld device that sends and receives ultrasound signals

Question 28

uptake

Answer 28

Rate of absorption of a radionuclide into an organ or tissue

Question 29

ventilation-perfusion studies

Answer 29

Ventilation and perfusion of a radiopharmaceutical followed by imaging its passage through the respiratory tract