| adrenal medullary imaging | <investigation, radiology> A nuclear scan that images the adrenal glands after a radioactive tracer is injected into the bloodstream. This test is useful in detecting a pheochromocytoma, particularly if it not within the adrenal gland. (27 Sep 1997) |
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| backscattered electron imaging | <microscopy> The production of backscattered electrons from a sample varies directly with the specimen's average atomic number, higher atomic number elements produce more backscattered electrons than lower atomic number ones. Detection of Backscattered Electrons is achieved by using a donut shaped solid state saemiconductor device mounted on the bottom of the objective lens. When Backscattered Electrons strike the detector electron-hole pairs are created which are then counted. This quantity is translated into a pixel intensity and displayed on the CRT, forming the image. By splitting the detector into halves (or quadrants) differences in the signal level on the individual detector segments provide surface topography information. (05 Aug 1998) |
| blood pool imaging | Nuclear medicine study using a radionuclide that is confined to the vascular compartment. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bone: gallium imaging | <radiology> Increased activity in: active osteomyelitis (90% sensitivity: better than Tc-99m MDP), sarcoma, cellulitis, septic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, Paget disease, metastases (65% sensitivity: than for bone agents) see: gallium: indications (12 Dec 1998) |
| bright field imaging | <microscopy> An imaging mode in a transmission electron microscopy that uses only unscattered Electrons to form the image. Contrast in such an image is due entirely to mass-thickness variations in amorphous samples, and may include diffraction contrast in crystalline samples. (05 Aug 1998) |
| cardiac blood pool imaging | This noninvasive test uses radioactive tracers to delineate the hearts chambers and major vessels. It may be used to detect a heart attack, heart muscle function and coronary artery disease. The patient receives a radioactive tracer by injection (into a vein) and then the heart is imaged using a gamma camera. The heart is imaged before and after exercise. This test may be used to detect and evaluate atrial septal defect, dilated cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, Lyme disease (secondary), mitral stenosis and superior vena cava syndrome. (27 Sep 1997) |
| radionuclide imaging | Process whereby a radionuclide is injected or measured (through tissue) from an external source, and a display is obtained from any one of several rectilinear scanner or gamma camera systems. The image obtained from a moving detector is called a scan, while the image obtained from a stationary camera device is called a scintiphotograph. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging | A special imaging technique used to image internal stuctures of the body, particularly the soft tissues. An MRI image is often superior to a normal X-ray image. It uses the influence of a large magnet to polarize hydrogen atoms in the tissues and then monitors the summation of the spinning energies within living cells. Images are very clear and are particularly good for soft tissue, brain and spinal cord, joints and abdomen. These scans may be used for detecting some cancers or for following their progress. Acronym: MRI (11 Nov 1997) |
| magnetic resonance imaging, cine | A type of imaging technique used primarily in the field of cardiology. By coordinating the fast gradient-echo mri sequence with retrospective ecg-gating, numerous short time frames evenly spaced in the cardiac cycle are produced. These images are laced together in a cinematic display so that wall motion of the ventricles, valve motion, and blood flow patterns in the heart and great vessels can be visualised. (12 Dec 1998) |
| malignant melanoma: gallium imaging | <radiology> Greater than50% sensitivity for primary and metastatic sites: 73% sensitivity if lesion is greater than 2 cm, 17% sensitivity if less than 2 cm, see: gallium: indications malignant melanoma (12 Dec 1998) |
| gated blood pool imaging | Radionuclide ventriculography where scintigraphic data is acquired during repeated cardiac cycles at specific times in the cycle, using an electrocardiographic synchroniser or gating device. Analysis of right ventricular function is difficult with this technique; that is best evaluated by first-pass ventriculography (ventriculography, first-pass). (12 Dec 1998) |
| ratio imaging fluorescence microscopy | <procedure> A method of measurement of intracellular pH or intracellular calcium levels, using a fluorescent probe molecule (see fura-2), in which the two different excitation wavelengths are used and the emitted light levels compared. If emission at one wavelength is sensitive to the intracellular ion level and emission at the other wavelength is not, then standardisation for intracellular probe concentration, efficiency of light collection, inactivation of probe and thickness of cytoplasm can all be performed automatically. (17 Dec 1997) |
| ventilation/perfusion lung imaging | <radiology> See: ventilation agents, perfusion agents, Biello-Siegel criteria (12 Dec 1998) |
| phantoms, imaging | Devices or objects in various imaging techniques used to visualise or enhance visualization by simulating conditions encountered in the procedure. Phantoms are used very often in procedures employing or measuring x-irradiation or radioactive material to evaluate performance. Phantoms often have properties similar to human tissue. Water demonstrates absorbing properties similar to normal tissue, hence water-filled phantoms are used to map radiation levels. Phantoms are used also as teaching aids to simulate real conditions with X-ray or ultrasonic machines. (12 Dec 1998) |
| myocardial infarct imaging | <radiology> Tc-99m pyrophosphate (PYP) 20 mCi, peak abnormality 2-3 days, often falsely negative before 2 days, abnormal for 7-10 days, mechanism: calcium influx into ischemic cells, PYP incorporated into crystalline structure, analogous to hydroxyapatite see: nuclear cardiology (12 Dec 1998) |