Medical Imaging Terms: A Comprehensive Glossary
Medical Imaging Terms
Abnormalities
Abnormalities: Something abnormal in the body that is considered harmful.
Blurred
Blurred: Not clear. An X-ray image is blurred when it is unclear and lacks quality.
Clinical Radiology
Clinical radiology: Refers to the use of radiology to diagnose and/or treat injury or disease.
Computer Tomography
Computer tomography (CT) or scanner CT: It is an examination that uses an X-ray source which rotates around the body to produce simultaneous cross-sectional images (slices) to diagnose diseases or injuries.
Contraindications
Contraindications: Cases in which an examination should not be used.
Contrast Medium
Contrast medium: It is a radiopaque liquid and allows the organ or tissue it fills to be examined. It may be swallowed, introduced through the anus as an enema, or given as an injection.
Contrast
Contrast: It is the difference between a dark and a light area.
Deflated
Deflated: The lungs are deflated when they have lost all air.
Drainage
Drainage: The process of removing fluid from the site of an injury or infection.
Imaging
Imaging: To take images of something.
Inflated
Inflated: The lungs are inflated when they are air-filled.
Informed Consent/ Safety Questionnaire
Informed consent/ Safety questionnaire: It is an information document which is important to realize an examination in a safe way.
Ionizing Radiation
Ionizing radiation: Is the radiation that modifies the internal structure of the atoms through electromagnetic radiation.
Local Anaesthetic
Local anaesthetic: It is an injection that is put into the patient to prevent them from feeling pain.
Lungs
Lungs: Lungs are the organs that are inflated with air and are deflated when they lose all air.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): It is a radiologic examination that does not use radiation. Its images are more detailed and have more contrast than CT. It should not be used in patients with metallic foreign bodies and pacemakers. MRI is also not approved during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Non-Invasive Investigation
Non-invasive investigation: It is an investigation without a surgical procedure.
Nuclear Medicine
Nuclear Medicine: Is the science, a branch of medicine that uses radioactive isotopes in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and investigation of diseases.
Pacemakers
Pacemakers: It is an electronic device surgically implanted to regulate heartbeat.
Plane
Plane: Any surface of the body seen from an angle.
Radiographer
Radiographer: It is the technician who takes (the radiography/ the X-ray examinations).
Radiography
Radiography: A radiography involves exposing a part of the body to a small dose of radiation to produce an image of the internal organs.
Radiologist
Radiologist: Is the doctor who makes a diagnosis of diseases based on a radiography.
Radiology
Radiology: It is the use of radiation in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as cancer.
Radiolucent
Radiolucent: When an organ doesn’t absorb radiation and appears dark on the image because it has a low density. For example, the lung tissue.
Radiopaque
Radiopaque: When an organ absorbs radiation and appears white or light grey on the image because it has a high density. For example, the ribs and spine.
Radioscopy
Radioscopy: It is a video through which we can see anatomical structures of an internal organ in movement.
Serial Chest X-Ray
Serial chest X-ray: When the radiographer repeats chest X-ray examinations at intervals to track for any changes to the same patient. To repeat a chest X-ray at intervals.
Slices
Slices: Slices are cross-sectional images of the body in computer tomography. Each slice can be less than one millimeter thick, making it possible to find very small abnormalities.
Tissue
Tissue: It is a group of cells of which the organs of the body are made.
Transducer
Transducer: It is an ultrasound examination device that generates and receives the waves.
Ultrasound Gel
Ultrasound gel: It is a special gel which is applied to the patient’s skin to ensure there is no air between the transducer and the body.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound: It is an examination that uses high-frequency sound waves to view organs and structures inside the body. Its results in obese (overweight) patients can be unsatisfactory.