Dense

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Dense

Dense (/dɛns/), derived from the Latin word densus, meaning thick or compact, is a term often used in the medical field to describe the physical property of a substance or tissue.

Medical Usage

In medical terminology, the term dense is used to describe tissues or substances that appear darker or thicker on medical imaging scans, such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs. This is due to the fact that these dense tissues or substances absorb more radiation, causing them to appear darker on the scan.

For example, in mammography, a dense breast is one that has a high proportion of fibroglandular tissue compared to fatty tissue. Women with dense breasts have a higher risk of breast cancer, and their mammograms can be more difficult to interpret.

Related Terms

  • Radiodensity: The degree to which a material absorbs or blocks radiation. The denser the tissue, the higher its radiodensity.
  • Computed Tomography (CT): A type of imaging test that uses X-rays to create detailed pictures of the inside of the body. Dense tissues or substances will appear darker on a CT scan.
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): A type of imaging test that uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed pictures of the inside of the body. Dense tissues or substances will appear darker on an MRI.
  • Fibroglandular Tissue: The type of breast tissue that appears dense on a mammogram. It includes the milk ducts, lobules, and supportive tissue.
  • Breast Cancer: A type of cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts. It is more common in women, but can also occur in men.

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski