DEXA scan


DEXA scan

Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry Imaging An imaging system to assess bone mineral density; commonly used to screen perimenopausal and menopausal ♀ before beginning HRT, to evaluate Pts with 1º or 2º osteoporosis or metabolic diseases affecting the skeleton and monitor treatment and progression of osteoporosis. See Bone mineral density, Hormone replacement therapy, Osteoporosis.

scan

(skan) [Ult. fr L. scandere, to read or measure verse; scan] 1. An image obtained from a system that compiles information in a sequence pattern, such as computed tomography (CT), ultrasound, or magnetic resonance imaging.2. Scintiscan.

bone scan

A nuclear medicine scan that uses short half-life radioactively labeled chemicals to make images of bones and bone diseases, such as occult fractures, osteomyelitis, or tumors. This is esp. useful in delineating osteomyelitis and metastases to the bone.

brain scan

Any procedure for imaging the structure and function of the brain.

CAT scan

computed axial tomography scan, a colloquial term for CT scan. See: computed tomography

coronary artery scan

Abbreviation: CAS
A noninvasive diagnostic CT scan that may identify patients at risk for atherosclerosis and coronary disease episodes by measuring calcium in the coronary arteries.

DEXA scan

dual energy x-ray absorptiometry .

gamma scan

Any radiologic technique that relies on the detection of gamma particle–emitting radionuclides. Examples of gamma scans are bone scans, gallium scans, and positron emission tomography scans.

HIDA scan

An imaging procedure for evaluating diseases of the liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts. Hydroxy-iminodiacetic acid (HIDA), is injected into the bloodstream. Its excretion through the biliary tract is observed with a scintillation counter in a nuclear medicine laboratory. Normally HIDA travels from the bile ducts through the cystic duct and into the gallbladder, then out the common bile duct through the sphincter of Oddi into the duodenum. When the flow of bile is obstructed by disease (e.g., a stone, stricture, or malignancy), the passage of the tracer through the biliary tree is slowed or undetectable. See: cholescintigraphy

Meckel scan

See: Meckel, Johann Friedrich (the younger)

milk scan

A colloquial term for radionuclide reflux imaging. See: imaging

multigated acquisition scan

Abbreviation: MUGA
A nuclear medicine scan for measuring the ejection fraction. The MUGA is performed by withdrawing a small amount of blood from the patient; the blood cells are incubated with a radioactive tracer, such as technetium or sestamibi, and then reinfused into the patient. A radioactive detector measures the quantity of blood in the heart at each of multiple stages in systole and diastole. Data obtained from the study are used to calculate the average expulsion of blood during each heartbeat. Synonym: multigated ventriculogram; nuclear ventriculogram; radionuclide ventriculogram

triple rule-out scan

CT angiography performed on patients who come to the Emergency Department with chest pain of unknown cause. It is used to determine if a patient with chest pain has an acute coronary syndrome, a pulmonary embolism, or an aortic dissection.

ventilation/perfusion scan

Abbreviation: V/Q scan
An imaging procedure used in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. The procedure has two parts: the injection of microscopic spheres into the bloodstream to evaluate perfusion of the lung; and the inhalation of xenon gas to assess pulmonary aeration. Certain patterns of mismatching between ventilation and perfusion of the lung are considered diagnostic of pulmonary embolism.

V/Q scan

ventilation/perfusion scan.