| LFA | left femoral artery; left frontal craniotomy; left fronto-anterior [fetal position]; leukocyte funct... |
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| PFT | pancreatic function test; parafascicular thalamotomy; posterior fossa tumor; prednisone, fluorouraci... |
| SFI | Sexual Function Index; Social Function Index |
| DTF | detector transfer function |
| MTF | maximum terminal flow; medical treatment facility; modulation transfer function |
| contrast | A dye injected intravenously during X-ray studies, for example CT, to enhance the image of a tumour. In MR studies, the contrast is called gadolinium. The use of contrast may rarely result in some adverse effects: it also increases the cost (but also accuracy in many cases) of the scan. (16 Dec 1997) |
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| contrast agent | A substance that is introduced into or around a structure and, because of the difference in absorption of X-rays by the contrast medium and the surrounding tissues, allows radiographic visualisation of the structure. (18 Nov 1997) |
| contrast bath | A bath in which a part is immersed in hot water for a period of a few minutes and then in cold, the hot and cold periods alternated regularly at intervals, usually half-hours; used to increase the blood flow to the part. (05 Mar 2000) |
| contrast echocardiography | The injection of contrast media of high echo reflectants (e.g., bubbles) to outline a chamber or delineate a shunt within the heart. (05 Mar 2000) |
| contrast enema | Enema using barium or another contrast medium. (05 Mar 2000) |
| contrast enhancement | The intravenous administration of water-soluble iodinated contrast material, which increases the CT number of the vascular pool, as well as some lesions (particularly in the brain), due to abnormal leakage into the interstitium; the property of showing increased radiopacity from concentration of contrast medium. (05 Mar 2000) |
| contrast material | A substance that is introduced into or around a structure and, because of the difference in absorption of X-rays by the contrast medium and the surrounding tissues, allows radiographic visualisation of the structure. (18 Nov 1997) |
| contrast media | <radiology> Side-effects from high osmolality / viscosity (fluid shifts from different compartments), vasodilatation, heat, pain, osmotic diuresis, haemodynamic changes, pharmacokinetics, distribute volume into extracellular space, clearance by glomerular filtration and renal excretion, physiologic reaction, increased plasma osmolality causes fluid shift from RBCs and pulmonary tissue leading to increased plasma volume, then osmolar gradient reverses with passage of contrast bolus to pulmonary capillary endothelium leaks protein into pulmonary interstitium leading to increased pulmonary oedema, transient cardiovascular changes (magnitude increased with tonicity of medium), increased PAP, increased CO with decreased peripheral/pulmonary vascular resistance, decreased systemic arterial pressure (variable), may activate gen receptors causing side effects (12 Dec 1998) |
| contrast medium | A substance that is introduced into or around a structure and, because of the difference in absorption of X-rays by the contrast medium and the surrounding tissues, allows radiographic visualisation of the structure. (18 Nov 1997) |
| contrast sensitivity | The ability to detect sharp boundaries (stimuli) and to detect slight changes in luminance at regions without distinct contours. Psychophysical measurements of this visual function are used to evaluate visual acuity and to detect eye disease. (12 Dec 1998) |
| contrast stain | <technique> A dye used to colour one portion of a tissue or cell which remained unaffected when the other part was stained by a dye of different colour. Synonym: differential stain. (05 Mar 2000) |
| high osmolar contrast agent | Ionic water-soluble iodinated contrast media. Synonym: high osmolar contrast medium. (05 Mar 2000) |
| high osmolar contrast medium | Ionic water-soluble iodinated contrast media. Synonym: high osmolar contrast medium. (05 Mar 2000) |
| simultaneous contrast | The enhancement of the visual sensation of white when a white object is viewed adjacent to a black object; the black object also appears blacker as a result of the contiguity of white. Adjacent complementary colours also appear brighter; e.g., green appears a brighter green and red a brighter red if these two colours are viewed side by side. (05 Mar 2000) |
| non-ionic contrast media | <radiology> A class of radiographic contrast media which do not ionise in solution, thereby decreasing effective osmolarity and toxicity. (05 Mar 2000) |