Medical Terminology: Diagnostic Tests And Procedures

Front 1

Angiography/angiogram

Back 1

X-ray imaging of the blood vessels

Front 2

Arteriography/arteriogram

Back 2

X-ray recording of arteries after injection of a contrast substance into an artery.

Front 3

Arthrography

Back 3

X-ray examination of the inside of a joint with a contrast medium

Front 4

Barium tests

Back 4

X-ray examination with a liquid barium mixture to locate disorders in the esophagus, duodenum, small intestine, and colon.

Front 5

Bone density scan

Back 5

Low-energy x-rays reveal areas of bone deficiency; usually performed on the lower spine or hips.

Front 6

Cardiac catheterization

Back 6

Procedure in which a catheter is passed via vein or artery into the chambers of the heart to measure the blood flow out of the heart and the pressures and oxygen content in the heart chambers.

Front 7

Chest x-ray

Back 7

An x-ray image of the chest wall, lungs, and heart.

Front 8

Cholangiography/
cholangiogram

Back 8

X-ray recording of bile ducts.

Front 9

Computed tomography scan

Back 9

X-ray images that show the body in cross section.

Front 10

Cystography/cystogram

Back 10

X-ray recording of the urinary bladder with a contrast medium so that the outline of the urinary bladder can be seen clearly.

Front 11

Digital Subtraction Angiography

Back 11

A unique x-ray technique for viewing blood vessels by taking two images and subtracting one from the other.

Front 12

Doppler ultrasound

Back 12

Technique that focuses sound waves on blood vessels and measures blood flow as echoes bounce off red blood cells.

Front 13

Echocardiography/
echocardiogram

Back 13

Imaging of the heart by introducing high-frequency sound waves through the chest into the heart.

Front 14

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Back 14

ERCP
X-ray recording of the bile ducts, pancreas, and pancreatic duct.

Front 15

Endoscopic ultrasonography

Back 15

E-US
Sound waves are generated from a tube inserted through the mouth and into the esophagus.

Front 16

Esophagography/
esophagogram

Back 16

X-ray imaging of the esophagus performed after the barium sulfate is swallowed.

Front 17

Flouroscopy

Back 17

An x-ray examination that uses a flourescent screen rather than a photographic plate to show images of the body in motion.

Front 18

Gallbladder ultrasound

Back 18

Sound waves are used to visualize gallstones.

Front 19

Hysterosalpingography/
hysterosalpingogram

Back 19

X-ray recording of the uterus and fallopian tubes.

Front 20

Kidneys, ureters, bladder

Back 20

KUB
X-ray images of the kidneys, ureters, and urinary bladder, made without contrast.

Front 21

Lower gastrointestinal examination

Back 21

X-ray pictures of the colon taken after a liquid contrast substance called barium sulfate is inserted through a plastic tube into the rectum and large intestine.

Front 22

Magnetic resonance imaging

Back 22

A powerful magnetic field, radiofrequency waves, and a computer are used to produce images of organs and body structures in specialized detail, including their locations in relation to one another.

Front 23

Mammography/Mammogram

Back 23

X-ray recording of the breast

Front 24

Myelography/Myelogram

Back 24

X-ray recording of the spinal cord.

Front 25

Pulmonary angiography

Back 25

X-ray images of blood vessels of the lung are obtained after injection of contrast.

Front 26

Tomography

Back 26

X-ray recording that shows an organ in depth

Front 27

Ultrasonography

Back 27

images are produced by beaming sound waves into the body and capture the echoes that bounce off organs.

Front 28

Upper gastrointestinal examination

Back 28

X-ray pictures are taken of the esophagus, duodenum, and small intestine after a liquid contrast substance (barium sulfate) is swallowed.

Front 29

Urography/urogram

Back 29

X-ray recording of the kidney and urinary tract.

Front 30

Bone scan

Back 30

a radioactive substance is injected intravenously, and its uptake in bone is detected with a scanning device.

Front 31

Brain scan

Back 31

A radioactive substance is injected intravenously; it collects in any lesion that disturbs the normal barrier that exists between blood vessels and normal brain tissue. A scanning device detects the radioactive substance and can identify tumors, abscesses, and hemotomas.

Front 32

Gallium scan

Back 32

radioactive gallium is injected into the bloodstream and is detected in the body with a scanning device that produces an image of the areas where gallium collects; the gallium collects in areas of certain tumors and in areas of infection.

Front 33

MUGA scan

Back 33

test using radioactive technetium to measure cardiac output by multiple-gated acquisition technique; aka technetium-99m ventriculography

Front 34

Positron emission tomography

Back 34

PET
positrons are released into the body and cross-sectional color pictures are taken showing its location. This is used for tumor detection, to detect blood flow to the heart, and brain disorders.

Front 35

Pulmonary perfusion scan

Back 35

radioactive particles are injected intravenously and travel rapidly to areas of the lung that are filled with blood.

Front 36

Pulomonary ventillation scan

Back 36

radioactive gas is inhaled, and a special camera detects its presence in the lungs. Areas of the lung that do not fill with the substance is usually due to diseases that obstruct the bronchial tubes and air sacs.

Front 37

Technetium Tc-99 sestamibi scan

Back 37

The protein sestamibi, tagged with technetium-99, is injected, and the radioactivity is taken up in areas of mycardial infarction.

Front 38

Thallium-201 scintigraphy

Back 38

Thallium-201 is injected into a vein and images of blood flow through heart muscle are recorded.

Front 39

Thyroid scan and uptake

Back 39

in a thyroid scan, radioactive iodine (the radiotracer) is injected intravenously or swallowed and then collects in the thyroid gland. A scanning device locates the radiotracer in the gland tissue, showing the size, shape, and position of the thyroid.

Front 40

Allergy test

Back 40

a small quantity of various suspected allergic substances is applied to the skin and a reaction is noted.

Front 41

Amniocentesis

Back 41

surgical puncture to remove fluid from the sac that surrounds the fetus in the uterus.

Front 42

Arthrocentesis

Back 42

surgical puncture to remove fluid from a joint.

Front 43

Aspiration

Back 43

withdrawal of fluid by suction through a needle or tube.

Front 44

Audiometry

Back 44

test using sound waves of various frequencies up to 8000 Hz, to quantify the extent and type of hearing loss. An audigram is a record produced by this test.

Front 45

Auscultation

Back 45

process of listening for sounds produced within the body. most often performed using a stethoscope to determine the condition of the chest or abdominal organs or to detect the fetal heartbeat.

Front 46

Biopsy

Back 46

removal of a piece of tissue from the body for subsequent examination under a microscope.

Front 47

Bone marrow biopsy

Back 47

removal of a small amount of bone marrow,cells are then examined with a microscope.

Front 48

Bronchoscopy

Back 48

Visual examination of the bronchial passages through a flexible tube (endoscope) inserted into the airway.

Front 49

Catheterization

Back 49

Introduction of a hollow, flexible tube, vessel, or cavity of the body to withdraw or instill fluids.

Front 50

Chorionic villus sampling

Back 50

removal of a small piece of placental tissue for microscopic analysis to detect fetal abnormalities.

Front 51

Colonoscopy

Back 51

visual examination of the colon using a flexible tube (endoscope) through the rectum and beyond.

Front 52

Colposcopy

Back 52

inspection of the vagina and cervix through a special microscope inserted into the vagina; the vaginal walls are held apart with a speculum so that all tissues can be viewed.

Front 53

Conization

Back 53

Removal of a cone-shaped sample of uterine cervix tissue; this sample is then examined with a microscope for evidence of cancerous growth.

Front 54

Culdocentesis

Back 54

surgical puncture to remove fluid from the cul-de-sac (the space between the rectum and uterus) through a thin, hollow needle inserted through the vagina into this space.

Front 55

Cystoscopy

Back 55

visual examination of the urinary bladder through a thin tube or cystoscope (endoscope) inserted into the urethra and then passed into the bladder.used to remove stones and to perform a biopsy of the urinary bladder.

Front 56

Digital rectal examination

Back 56

DRE
The physician inserts a gloved finger into the patient's rectum to detect rectal cancer and as a primary method to detect prostate cancer.

Front 57

Dilation and curettage

Back 57

D&C
a series of probes of increasing size are systematically inserted through the vagina into the opening of the cervix, which is dilated so that a curette can be inserted to remove tissue from the lining of the uterus. The tissue is then examined with a microscope.

Front 58

Electrocardiography

Back 58

ECG/EKG
Connection of electrodes (wires or "leads") to the body to record electrical impulses from the heart

Front 59

Electromyography

Back 59

EMG
Insertion of needle electrodes into muscle to record electrical activity; this procedure detects injuries and diseases that affect muscles and nerves.

Front 60

Endoscopy

Back 60

inspection of an organ or body cavity through a thin, tube-like instrument (endoscope) inserted into the organ or cavity.

Front 61

Esaphagogastroduodenoscopy

Back 61

EGD
Visual examination of the esophagus, stomach, and first part of the small intestine using an endoscope inserted through the mouth and down the throat.

Front 62

Esophagoscopy

Back 62

visual examination of the esophagus performed through an endoscope inserted into the mouth and down the throat.

Front 63

Exophthalmometry

Back 63

measurement of the extent of protrusion of the eyeball in exophthalmos.

Front 64

Frozen section

Back 64

quick preparation of a biopsy sample for examination during an actual surgical procedure; tissue is taken from the operating room to the pathology lab and frozen, then thinly sliced and examined under a microscope.

Front 65

Gastroscopy

Back 65

visual examination of the stomach through an endoscope inserted down through the esophagus, for either diagnostic inspection or biopsy. When the upper portion of the small intestine is also visualized, the procedure is called EGD.

Front 66

Holter monitoring

Back 66

electrocardiographic recording of heart activity over an extended period of time. also called ambulatory electrocardiography

Front 67

Hysteroscopy

Back 67

visual examination of the uterus using an endoscope passed through the uterine neck or cervix.

Front 68

Laparoscopy

Back 68

examination of the abdominal cavity through an endoscope inserted into the abdomen. can be used to remove some organs (such as the gallbladder, apendix, and ovary) and tumors and for fallopian tube ligation to prevent pregnancy.

Front 69

Laryngoscopy

Back 69

visual examination of the voice box (larynx) through an endoscope inserted down the trachea (airway). The procedure can reveal tumors and explain changes in the voice.

Front 70

Lumbar puncture

Back 70

LP
Introduction of a hollow needle into a space surrounding the spinal cord to withdraw fluid for analysis. Cerebro spinal fluid (CSF) can be measured and contrast injected for imaging.

Front 71

Mediastinoscopy

Back 71

procedure for viewing structures in the mediastinum through an endoscope inserted into this space (in the chest, between the lungs and the front of the heart). This procedure is used to biopsy lymph nodes and to examine other structures within the mediastinum.

Front 72

Muscle biopsy

Back 72

a sample of muscle tissue is removed and analyzed microscopically.

Front 73

Nasogastric intubation

Back 73

Insertion of a tube through the nose into the stomach to withdraw fluid for analysis or to give nutrition directly into the stomach

Front 74

Opthalmoscopy

Back 74

A physician uses an opthalmoscope to look directly into the eye, evaluating the optic nerve, retina, and blood vessels in the back of the eye and the lens in the front of the eye for cataracts.

Front 75

Flurescein angiography

Back 75

A contrast substance is injected intravenously, and movement of blood in the back of the eye is observed with opthalmoscopy.

Front 76

Otoscopy

Back 76

A physician uses an otoscope inserted into the ear canal to check for obstruction, infection, fluid, and eardrum perforation, or scarring.

Front 77

Palpation

Back 77

Examination by touch; the physician feels underlying tissues and organs through the skin.

Front 78

Pap smear

Back 78

insertion of a cotton swab or wooden spatula into the vagina to obtain a sample of cells from the outer surface of the cervix.The cells are then smeared on a glass slide, preserved, and sent to the laboratory for microscopic examination

Front 79

Paracentesis

Back 79

Surgical puncture of the membrane surrounding the abdomen (peritoneum) to remove fluid from the abdominal cavity; fluid is drained for analysis and to prevent its accumulation in the abdomen;aka abdominocentesis

Front 80

Pelvic exam

Back 80

Physician examines female reproductive organs and checks the uterus and ovaries for enlargement, cysts, tumors, and abnormal bleeding. aka internal exam

Front 81

Percussion

Back 81

The technique of striking a part of the body with short, sharp taps of the fingers to determine the size, density, and position of the underlying parts by the sound obtained; usually used on the abdomen to examine the liver.

Front 82

Phlebotomy

Back 82

Incision of a vein to remove samples of blood for analysis

Front 83

Proctosigmoidoscopy

Back 83

Examination of the first 10 to 12 inches of the rectum and colon using an endoscope inserted through the anus.

Front 84

Sigmoidoscopy

Back 84

The sigmoid colon is visualized with a longer endoscope.

Front 85

Pulmonary function test

Back 85

Measurement of the air taken into and exhaled from the lungs by means of an instrument called a spirometer.

Front 86

Stool culture

Back 86

Feces placed in a growth medium are analyzed microscopically for evidence of microorganisms.

Front 87

Stress test

Back 87

Electrocardiography performed during exercise; may reveal hidden heart disease or confirm the cause of cardiac signs and symptoms.

Front 88

Thoracentesis

Back 88

Insertion of a needle into the chest to remove fluid from the space surrounding the lungs (pleural cavity).

Front 89

Pleural effusion

Back 89

excess fluid

Front 90

Atelectasis

Back 90

a collapsed lung

Front 91

Thoracoscopy

Back 91

visual examination of the surface of the lungs using an endoscope inserted through an incision in the chest.

Front 92

Tuning fork tests

Back 92

tests of hearing using a vibrating tuning fork of known frequency as a source of sound.