specialized diagnostic procedure in which a catheter is introduced into a large vein or artery, usually of an arm or a leg, and then threaded through the circulatory system to the heart.
angiocardiography (cardiac catheterization)
series of X-ray films allowing visualization of internal structures after the introduction of a radiopaque substance.
angiography
injection of a radiopaque contrast medium into an arterial blood vessel to make visualization of the cerebral vascular system via X-ray possible.
cerebral angiography
X-ray visualization of the internal anatomy of the renal blood vessels after injection of a contrast medium.
renal angiography
X-ray visualization of arteries following the introduction of a radiopaque contrast medium into the bloodstream through a specific vessel by way of a catheter.
arteriography
process of taking X-rays of the inside of a joint after a contrast medium has been injected into the joint.
arthrography
infusion of a radiopaque contrast medium, barium sulfate, into the rectum.
barium enema
oral administration of a radiopaque contrast medium, barium sulfate which flows into the esophagus as the person swallows.
barium swallow
bronchial examination via X-ray following the coating of the bronchi with a radiopaque substance.
bronchography
visualizing and outlining of the major bile ducts following an intravenous injection of a contrast medium.
cholangiography
an examination of the bile duct structure, using a needle to pass directly into an intrahepatic bile duct to inject a contrast medium.
cholangiography
procedure that examines the size and filling of the pancreatic and biliary ducts through direct radiographic visualization with a fiberoptic endoscope.
cholangiopancreatography (endoscopic retrograde)
visualization of the gallbladder through X-ray following the oral ingestion of pills containing a radiopaque iodinated dye.
cholecystography (oral)
cineradiography is a diagnostic technique combining the techniques of fluoroscopy, radiography, and cinematography by filming the images that develop on a fluorescent screen with a movie camera.
cineradiography
painless, noninvasive diagnostic X-ray procedure using ionizing radiation that produces a cross-sectional image of the body.
computed axial tomography (CAT)
X-ray visualization of the bladder and urethra during the voiding process, after the bladder has been filled with a contrast material.
voiding cystourethrography
X-ray images of blood vessels only, appearing without any background due to the use of a computerized digital video subtraction process.
digital subtraction angiography (DSA)
diagnostic procedure for studying the structure and motion of the heart.
echocardiography
radiological technique used to examine the function of an organ or a body part by using a fluoroscope.
fluoroscopy
X-ray of the uterus and the fallopian tubes by injecting a contrast material into these structures.
hysterosalpingography
X-ray assessment of the lymphatic system following injection of a contrast medium into the lymph vessels in the hand or foot.
lymphangiography
noninvasive scanning procedure that provides visualization of fluid, soft tissue, and body structures by using electromagnetic energy.
MRI
process of taking X-rays of the soft tissue of the breast to detect various benign and/or malignant growths before they can be felt.
mammography
introduction of contrast medium into the lumbar suabarachnoid space through a lumbar puncture to visualize the spinal cord and vertebral canal through X-ray examination.
myelography
noninvasive diagnostic imaging method that demonstrates the biological function of the body before anatomical changes take place.
PET scan
aka excretory urogram, this radiographic procedure provides visualization of the entire urinary tract.
pyelography (intravenous)
will destroy the rapidly multiplying cells whether or not they are cancerous.
radiation therapy
examination that determines the position, size, shape and physiological function of the thyroid gland through the use of radio nuclear scanning.
radioactive iodine uptake
process of recording the emission of radioactive waves using a gamma camera after an intravenous injection of a radionuclide material into the particular part of the body being studied.
scanning
nuclear imaging procedure that shows how blood flows to tissues and organs.
single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)
oral administration of a radiopaque contrast medium, barium sulfate, which flows through the GI system
small bowel follow-through
X-ray technique used to contrast a detailed cross section, at a predetermined depth, of a tissue structure.
tomography
aka ultrasound; sonogram. Procedure in which sound waves are transmitted into the body structures as a small transducer is passed over the patient’s skin.
ultrasonography
aka phlebography. Technique used to prepare an X-ray image of veins that have been injected with a contrast medium that is radiopaque.
venography
use of high-energy electromagnetic waves, passing through the body onto a photographic film, to procedure a picture of the internal structures of the body for diagnosis and therapy.
X-rays
movement of a limb away from the body.
abduction
movement of a limb toward the axis of the body.
adduction
from the front to the back of the body, commonly associated with the direction of the X-ray beam.
anteroposterior
radiographic process in which the aorta and its branches are injected with any of the various contrast media for visualization.
aortography
method of radiographically visualizing the inside of a joint b injecting air or contrast medium.
arthrography
pertaining to or situated on the axis of a structure or part of the body.
axial
cyclic accelerator that produces high-energy electrons for radiotherapy treatments.
betatron
placement of radioactive sources in contact with or implanted into the tissues to be treated.
brachytherapy
X-ray examination of the bronchi after they have been coated with a radiopaque substance.
bronchography
filming with a movie camera of the images that appear on a fluourescent screen, especially those images of body structures that have been injected with a nontoxic radiopaque medium for diagnostic purposes.
cineradiography
an X-ray technique that produces a film representing a detailed cross section of tissue structure.
CT
any method of X-ray image formation that uses a computer to store and manipulate data.
digital radiography
apparent change in frequency of sound or light waves emitted by a source as it moves away from or toward an observer.
Doppler effect
turning outward or inside out, such as a turning of the foot outward at the ankle.
eversion
movement allowed by certain joints of the skeleton that increases the angle between two adjoining bones, such as extending the leg.
extension
movement allowed by certain joints of the skeleton that decreases the angle between two adjoining bones, such as bending the elbow.
flexion
emission of light of one wavelength when exposed to light of a different wavelength.
fluorescence
device that uses the emission of light from a crystal struck by gamma rays to produce an image of the distribution of radioactive material in a body organ.
gamma camera
electromagnetic radiation of short wavelength emitted by the nucleus of an atomy during a nuclear reaction; gamma radiation.
gamma rays
time required for a radioactive substance to lose 50% of its activity through decay.
half-life
radiotherapy in which needles or wires that contain radioactive material are implanted directly into tumor areas.
interstitial therapy
abnormal condition in which an organ is turned inside out, such as a uterine inversion.
inversion
process in which a neutral atom or molecule gains or loses electrons and thus acquires a negative or positive electric charge.
ionization
exposure to any form of radiant energy.
irradiation
capable of causing death.
lethal
apparatus for accelerating charged subatomic particles used in radiotherapy, physics research, and the production of radionuclides.
linear accelerator
X-ray examination of lymph glands and lymphatic vessels after an injection of contrast medium
lymphangiography
medical discipline that uses radioactive isotopes in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.
nuclear medicine
voltage range of 100 to 350 KeV supplied by some X-ray generators used for radiation therapy.
orthovoltage
to soothe or relieve.
palliative
generation of a voltage across a solid when a mechanical stress is applied.
piezoelectric
direction from back to front.
posteroanterior
being in horizontal position when lying face down.
prone
abbreviation for radiation absorbed dose; basic unit of absorbed dose of ionizing radiation.
rad
ability of a substance to emit rays or particles from its nucleus.
radioactivity
allied health professional trained to use X-ray machines and other imaging equipment to produce images of the internal structures of the body.
radiographer
technique in radiology used to determine the concentration of an antigen, antibody, or other protein in the serum.
radioimmunoassay
radioactive isotope used for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes.
radioisotope
physician who specializes in radiology.
radiologist
pertaining to materials that allow X-rays to penetrate with a minimum of absorption.
radiolucent
an isotope that undergoes radioactive decay.
radionuclide (radioisotope)
not permitting the passage of X-rays or other radiant energy.
radiopaque
drug that contains radioactive atoms.
radiopharmaceutical
lying down or leaning backward.
recumbent
study of the diagnostic and therapeutic uses of X-rays, aka roentgenology.
radiology
technique for carefully studying an area, organ, or system of the body by recording and displaying an image of the area.
scanning
lying horizontally on the back.
supine
radiation therapy administered by a machine positioned at some distance from the patient.
telethrepay
handheld device that sends and receives a sound-wave signal.
transducer
drawing up or absorption of a substance.
uptake
