Med-Terms Contrast Tests

Contrast material used

X-Ray recording of the kidney and urinary tract

Also called Intravenous Urography, Intravenous Pyelography (IVP), Retrograde Urography/Pyelography

Barium is swallowed

X-Ray pictures are taken at increasing intrevals to follow the progress through the small intestine

Used to identify obstructions or ulcers

Barrium sulfate is swallowed

X-Ray of the esophagus, Duodenum, and Small intestine

No contrast material used

Sound waves directed into the body - capturing the echoes that bounce off organs

Shows difference between fluid and solid mass

Also called Sonography/Sonogram

No contrast material used

X-Ray of the spinal cord

Largely replaced by MRI

Used for detecting tumors or ruptured "slipped" disks

A hollow needle is passed into a suspicious lesion with the help of mamopgraphic imaging

No contrast material used

X-Ray recording of the breast

Used to detect breast cancer

May be performed with or without contrast material

Powerful magnetic field, radiofrequency waves, and computer used to produce images with specialized detail

Commonly used for imaging tumors of the brain or spinal cord

Barium sulfate inserted via enema into rectum and colon

X-Ray images can detect tumors, obstructions, or irregularities

Contrast material inserted through the vagina into the uterus and falopian tubes

X-Ray recording obtained to detect blockage or tumors

• No contrast material used
• - may be enhanced with barium

X-Ray images using a fluorescent screen

Shows motion

Fluoroscent substance emits a yellow/green light

Used to guide insertion of catheters and direct organ biopsy

radiopaque contrast injected via tube placed through the mouth into the bile and pancreatic ducts

X-Ray images obtained of the bile ducts, pancreas, and pancreatic duct

No contrast material used

High frequency sound waves through the chest into the heart

Echos showing heart structure recorded

Evaluates diseases of the valves and heart muscle

No contrast material used

Sound waves focused on blood vessels

Measures blood flow as echos bounce off red blood cells

Detects vessels that are blocked by clots or atherosclerosis

Contrast material may be used

X-Ray tube rotates around the body

Processed by a computer to show body in "slices" (cross section)

Contrast material used

X-Ray shows heart structure

Catheter is passed through a vein or artery into the heart to measure blood flow out of the heart, pressure, and O2 content

No contrast material used

Low energy X-Rays

Reveal areas of bone deficiency (osteopenia) or thinning (osteoporosis)

Also called Bone Densitometry or DEXA (Dual Energy X-Ray Absorpitometry)

Visualization of the arteries that travel across the outer surface of the heart

A-Rays detect abnormalities in the vessels that bring blood to the heart

X-Ray images showing blood vessels of the brain

Contrast substance used

Injected into arteries

X-Ray images taken

Same as Angiography - only focuses on arteries and typically coronary arteries

Contrast substance used injected into the blood vessels

X-Ray images taken

can detect blockage by clots, cholesterol plaques, tumors, or aneurysms