5 Common Radiology Terms You Should Know

The healthcare industry is vital to the health and wellbeing of people everywhere. A large part of this is radiology, the branch of medicine that uses medical imaging to diagnose and treat diseases. Whether you're a regular radiology patient or you're reading radiology news, it's a good idea to be well-versed on some of the most commonly used radiology terms. Here are five examples you should keep in mind! 

Angiocardiography

Experts in angiocardiography specialize in this X-ray imaging of the cardiac system. By injecting a special dye directly into the blood vessels, radiologists can see detailed images of the heart, coronary arteries and vessels. This helps tremendously with diagnosing heart health problems. Sometimes radiologists may use MRI's or CT to generate three-dimensional images of blood vessels and the heart. These images are called angiograms. 

Barium Sulfate 

This powder is used in many radiology practices and referenced in many pieces of radiology news. It's a white insoluble radiopaque powder that serves as a contrast material to allow for greater visibility of certain body parts in x-ray images. That's because radiopaque substances minimize the penetration of radiation, which helps radiologists see a clearer picture of the internal organs. 

CNS Prophylaxis

This is the official term for chemotherapy or radiation therapy targeting the central nervous system (CNS). Through a lumbar puncture, which is the procedure of extracting fluid from the spine in the lower back with a hollow needle, CNS Prophylaxis serves as a preventive treatment for cancer. You may also hear this called CNS sanctuary therapy in radiology news and radiology departments of clinics and hospitals. 

Diagnostic Ultrasound 

When you hear medical technicians, nurses or doctors talking about diagnostic ultrasounds, they are referring to the procedure that involves a transducer, also known as a probe, to generate high frequency sound waves within the range of 2-12MHz. These sound waves in turn produce images of the internal organs and structures for diagnosing diseases, illnesses and more. In other words, a diagnostic ultrasound encompasses much of the radiology unit. A diagnostic ultrasound could save your life.

Fluoroscopy

Fluoroscopy refers to a specific type of radiology that uses a continuous beam of x-ray radiation to produce a motion picture image. Specialists will view these images on a computer monitor as they take a closer look at health problems such as joint pain, diaphragm abnormalities, swallowing difficulties, gastrointestinal issues and more. In addition, fluoroscopy can be used throughout the placement of needles to ensure all needles are placed in the accurate anatomical position. Fluoroscopy is often in radiology news for advanced diagnostic and treatment technology.