M3F Radiology Vocab Flashcards
computed tomography (CT)
diagnostic x-ray procedure whereby a cross-sectional image of a specific body segment is produced
contrast studies
radiopaque materials are injected to obtain contrast between tissues that would be indistinguishable from one another
gamma camera
machine to detect gamma rays emitted from radiopharmaceuticals during scanning for diagnostic purposes
gamma rays
high-energy rays emitted by radioactive substances used 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 within a living organism
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
medical specialty that uses radioactive substances in the diagnosis and treatment of disease
positron emission tomography (PET)
positron-emitting radioactive substances given intravenously create a cross-sectional image of cellular metabolism based on local concentration of the radioactive substance
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
radiolabeled compound
radiopharmaceutical
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
radiopaque
obstructing the passage of x-rays
radiopharmaceutical
radioactive drug 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, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging
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, labels, attached to chemicals and followed as they travel through the body
ultrasonography (US)
diagnostic technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images 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 study (V/Q scan)
consists of a ventilation scan performed using an inhaled radiopharmaceutical and a perfusion scan using an intravenously injected radiopharmaceutical
