The Language Of

Medicine
10 edition
th

Davi-Ellen Chabner
Copyright 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.

Chapter 20
Radiology and
Nuclear Medicine

Copyright 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.

Chapter Goals
List the physical properties of x-rays.
Identify diagnostic techniques used by
radiologists and nuclear physicians.
Name x-ray views and patient
positions used in x-ray examinations.
Describe the role of radioactivity in
the diagnosis of disease.

Copyright 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.

Chapter Goals (contd)

Recognize medical terms used in
the specialties of radiology and
nuclear medicine.
Apply your new knowledge to
understanding medical terms in
their proper contexts, such as
medical reports and records.

Copyright 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.

Chapter 20
Lesson 20.1

Copyright 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.

Introduction
Radiology: medical specialty
concerned with the study of x-rays and
other technologies (such as ultrasound
and magnetic resonance) to produce
and interpret images of the human
body for diagnosis of disease
X-rays: invisible waves of energy
Nuclear medicine: use of radioactive
substances in the diagnosis of disease

Copyright 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.

Personnel in This Medical

Field
Radiologist
Nuclear physician
Radiologic technologists
Radiographers, nuclear medicine
technologists, sonographers

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Characteristics of X-rays

Expose photographic plates

Penetrate substances
Invisible
Travel in straight lines
Scatter
Ionization

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Diagnostic Techniques
X-Ray studies
Digital radiography
Computed tomography (CT)
Contrast studies
Barium sulfate: upper GI, lower GI
Iodine compounds: angiography,
arthrography, cholangiography,
digital subtraction angiography
(DSA), hysterosalpingography,
myelography, pyelography

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Diagnostic Techniques
(contd)

Fluoroscopy
Digital imaging techniques
Interventional radiology
Ultrasound
Magnetic imaging or magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI or MR)

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X-ray Positioning
Posteroanterior (PA) view: posterior
source to anterior detector

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X-ray Positioning (contd)

Anteroposterior (AP) view: anterior
source to posterior detector

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X-ray Positioning (contd)

Lateral view: in left lateral view,
source at right of patient, to
detector at left of patient

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X-ray Positioning (contd)

Oblique view: source slanting
direction at angle from
perpendicular plane

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X-ray Positioning (contd)

To describe the position of patient:
Abductionmovement away from the midline
Adductionmovement toward the midline
Eversionturning outward
Extensionlengthening or straightening a
flexed limb
Flexionbending a part of the body

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X-ray Positioning (contd)

To describe the position of
patient:
Lateral decubituslying down on the side
Pronelying on the belly (face down)
Recumbentlying down (prone or supine)
Supinelying on the back (face up)

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QUICK QUIZ:
1. Obstructing the passage of
x-rays:
A. radiopaque
B. radiolucent
C. radioisotope
D.radiopharmaceutical
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Chapter 20
Lesson 20.2

Copyright 2014, 2011, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.

Nuclear Medicine
Radionuclides/radioisotopes
Alpha particles, beta particles,
gamma rays

Nuclear medicine tests

In vitro: test tube
In vivo: in the body

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In Vitro Procedures
Analysis of blood and urine
Radioimmunoassay (RIA) uses
radioactive chemicals and antibodies
to detect hormones and drugs in the
patients blood (for example, digitalis
detection, hypothyroidism in
newborns).

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In Vivo Procedures
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)

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Procedures Using
Radionuclides
Bone scan
Lymphoscintigra
phy
Positron
emission
tomography
(PET) scan
PET/CT scan

Single-photon
emission computed
tomography
(SPECT)
Technetium Tc-99m
sestamibi
(Cardiolite) scan
Thallium (Tl) scan
Thyroid scan

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Focus on 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
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Focus on 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

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Vocabulary
computed
tomography (CT)
contrast studies

gamma camera
gamma rays

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Vocabulary (contd)
computed
tomography
(CT)
contrast studies

gamma camera
gamma rays

Diagnostic x-ray procedure that

produces a cross-sectional image of a
specific body segment
Radiopaque materials are injected to
obtain contrast with surrounding tissue
when shown on x-ray film
Machine to detect gamma rays
emitted from radiopharmaceuticals
High-energy rays emitted by
radioactive substances in tracer
studies

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Vocabulary (contd)
half-life
interventional
radiology
in vitro

in vivo

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Vocabulary (contd)
half-life

Time required for a radioactive substance to

lose half its radioactivity by disintegration

or diagnostic procedures
interventional Therapeutic
performed by a radiologist
radiology

in vitro

in vivo

Process, test, or procedure performed,

measured, or observed outside a living
organism
Process, test, or procedure is performed,
measured, or observed within a living
organism
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Vocabulary (contd)
ionization
magnetic
resonance
imaging (MRI)
nuclear medicine

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Vocabulary (contd)
ionization

Transformation of electrically
neutral substances into electrically
charged particles

magnetic
resonance
imaging (MRI)

nuclear medicine

Use of magnetic field and radio

waves to produce sagittal, coronal,
and axial images of the body
Medical specialty that studies uses
of radioactive substances in
diagnosis of disease

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Vocabulary (contd)
positron emission
tomography (PET)

radioimmunoassa
y

radioisotope
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Vocabulary (contd)
positron emission
tomography (PET)

Use of positron-emitting radioactive

substances given intravenously to
create a cross-sectional image of
cellular metabolism

radioimmunoassa
y

Test that combines radioactive

chemicals and antibodies to detect
minute quantities of substances in
a patients blood

radioisotope

Radioactive form of an element ;

radionuclide

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Vocabulary (contd)
radiolabeled
compound
radiology

radiolucent
radionuclide

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Vocabulary (contd)
radiolabeled
compound

Radiopharmaceutical; used in
nuclear medicine studies

radiology

Medical specialty concerned with

the study of x-rays and their use in
diagnosis of disease

radiolucent

Permitting the passage of x-rays

radionuclide

Radioactive form of an element;

radioisotope

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Vocabulary (contd)
radiopaque
radiopharmaceuti
cal

scan

scintigraphy
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Vocabulary (contd)
radiopaque

Obstructing the passage of x-rays

radiopharmaceuti
cal

Radioactive drug used for diagnostic

and therapeutic purposes

scan

Image of an area, organ or tissue of

the body obtained from ultrasound,
radioactive tracer studies, CT, or MRI

scintigraphy

Diagnostic nuclear medicine test

using radiopharmaceuticals and
gamma cameras to create images

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Vocabulary (contd)
single photon
emission
computed
tomography
(SPECT)
tagging

tracer studies

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Vocabulary (contd)
single photon
emission
computed
tomography
(SPECT)
tagging

tracer studies

Radioactive tracer is injected

intravenously and a computer
reconstructs a 3D-image based
on a composite of many views
Attaching a radionuclide to a
chemical and following its path
in the body
Use of radionuclide tags
attached to chemicals and
followed as they travel through
the body

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Vocabulary (contd)
ultrasonography
(US, U/S)
ultrasound
transducer
uptake
ventilationperfusion
studies
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Vocabulary (contd)
ultrasonography
(US, U/S)

Diagnostic technique that projects and

retrieves high-frequency sound waves
as they echo off body parts

ultrasound
transducer

Handheld device that sends and

receives ultrasound signals

uptake

Rate of absorption of a radionuclide

into an organ or tissue

Ventilation and perfusion of a

ventilationradiopharmaceutical followed by
perfusion studies imaging its passage through the
respiratory tract
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QUICK QUIZ:
2. Which of the following is a
handheld device that
sends and receives
ultrasound signals?
A. Gamma camera
B. Roentgenology
C. Radioisotope
D.Transducer

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Combining Forms,
Suffixes, Prefixes, and
COMBINING FORMS
Terminology
Combining Form

Meaning

fluor/o
__________
is/o
__________
pharmaceut/o __________
radi/o
__________
roentgen/o
__________
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Combining Forms, Suffixes,

COMBINING FORMS

Prefixes, and Terminology

Combining Form
Meaning
(contd)

fluor/o
luminous
is/o
same
pharmaceut/o drug
radi/o
x-rays
roentgen/o
x-rays
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Combining Forms, Suffixes,

Prefixes, and Terminology
(contd)
COMBINING FORMS
Combining Form

son/o
therapeut/o
vitr/o
viv/o

Meaning

__________
__________
__________
__________

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Combining Forms, Suffixes,

Prefixes, and Terminology
(contd)

COMBINING FORMS
Combining Form

son/o
therapeut/o
vitr/o
viv/o

Meaning

sound
treatment
glass
life

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Combining Forms, Suffixes,

Prefixes, and Terminology
(contd)
SUFFIXES
Suffix

Meaning

__________
__________
__________
__________

-gram
-graphy
-lucent
-opaque

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Combining Forms, Suffixes,

Prefixes, and Terminology
(contd)

SUFFIXES
Suffix

Meaning

-gram
-graphy
recording
-lucent
-opaque

record
process of
to shine
obscure

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Combining Forms, Suffixes,

Prefixes, and Terminology
(contd)
PREFIXES
Prefix

Meaning

cine echo ultra-

__________
__________
__________

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Combining Forms, Suffixes,

Prefixes, and Terminology
(contd)
PREFIXES
Prefix

Meaning

cine echosound
ultra-

movement
a repeated
beyond

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Abbreviations

Angio
AP
Ba
BE
C-spine
CT
CXR
Decub
DICOM
DI
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Abbreviations (contd)

Angio
AP
Ba
BE
C-spine
CT
CXR
Decub
DICOM
DI

Angiography
Anteroposterior
Barium
Barium enema
Cervical spine films
Computed tomography
Chest x-ray (film)
Decubitus lying down
Digital image communication in medicine
Diagnostic imaging

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Abbreviations (contd)

DSA
ECHO
EUS
18F-FDG
Gd
123I
131I
IVP
KUB
LAT
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Abbreviations (contd)

DSA
ECHO
EUS
18F-FDG
Gd
123I
131I
IVP
KUB
LAT

Digital subtraction angiography

Echocardiography
Endoscopic ultrasonography
Fluorodeoxyglucose
Gadolinium
Isotope of radioactive iodine
Isotope of radioactive iodine
Intravenous pyelogram
Kidneys, ureters, bladder (series)
Lateral
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Abbreviations (contd)

LS films
L-spine
MDCT
MR, MRI
MRA
MRV
MUGA
PA
PACS
PET
PET/CT
RAIU
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Abbreviations (contd)

LS films
L-spine
MDCT
MR, MRI
MRA
MRV
MUGA
PA
PACS
PET
PET/CT
RAIU

Lumbosacral (spine) films

Lumbar spine
Multidetector CT scanner
Magnetic resonance, magnetic resonance imaging
Magnetic resonance angiography
Magnetic resonance venography
Multiple-gated acquisitions (scan)
Posteroanterior
Picture archival and communications system
Positron emission tomography
Positron emission tomography/computed
tomography
Radioactive iodine uptake (test)
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Abbreviations (contd)

RFA
SBFT
SPECT
99TC
201Tl
T-spine
UGI
US, U/S
V/Q scan

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Abbreviations (contd)

RFA
SBFT
SPECT
99TC
201Tl
T-spine
UGI
US, U/S
V/Q scan

Radiofrequency ablation
Small bowel follow-through
Singe photon emission computed
tomography
Radioactive technetium
Thallium-201
Thoracic spine
Upper gastrointestinal (series)
Ultrasound; ultrasonography
Ventilation-perfusion scan of the lungs
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QUICK QUIZ:
3. Which term refers to
movement away from the
midline of the body?
A. Adduction
B. Abduction
C. PA
D.Inversion
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QUICK QUIZ: (contd)

4. Which term refers to a
patient lying on the back?
A. Prone
B. Supine
C. Flexion
D.Lateral decubitus
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