Radiolucent

Radiolucent
Anything that permits the penetration and passage of X-rays or other forms of radiation. Radiolucent is as opposed to radiopaque (which refers to anything that blocks the penetration of X-rays). Plastic is usually radiolucent. If a child swallows a radiolucent plastic paperclip, that paperclip will not be visible on X-ray so it may not be possible to tell whether it is in the stomach or down in the intestines (where it represents no problem) or lodged in the airway to the lungs (where it can be a big problem). To make radiolucent structures visible on X-ray, radiopaque dyes may be used. For instance, in an intravenous pyelogram (an IVP), a radiopaque dye is injected into the bloodstream and passes into the urine, outlining the otherwise radiolucent renal pelvis and ureters — the renal pelvis where the urine is collected and the ureters that serve as conduits for the urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
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Relatively penetrable by x-rays or other forms of radiation. Cf.:radiopaque. [radio- + L. lucens, shining]

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ra·dio·lu·cent -'lüs-ənt adj partly or wholly permeable to radiation and esp. X-rays compare RADIOPAQUE

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adj.
having the property of being transparent to X-rays. Radiopacity decreases with atomic number of the element. Radiolucent materials, such as beryllium, are used to construct windows in X-ray tubes to allow the X-rays to escape from the tube. Gases are relatively radiolucent to X-rays and can be used as a negative contrast medium in X-ray examinations, e.g. in double contrast barium examinations of the bowel or carbon dioxide arteriography.

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ra·dio·lu·cent (ra″de-o-looґsənt) [radio- + L. lucēre to shine] permitting the passage of x-rays or other forms of radiant energy with little attenuation; radiolucent areas appear dark on the exposed film.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • radiolucent — [rā΄dē ō lo͞o′sənt] adj. [ RADIO + LUCENT] offering little or no resistance to the passage of X rays or other forms of radiant energy radiolucency n …   English World dictionary

  • radiolucent — adj. having the property of being transparent to X rays. Radiopacity decreases with atomic number of the element. Radiolucent materials, such as beryllium, are used to construct windows in X ray tubes to allow the X rays to escape from the tube.… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • radiolucent — adjective Date: 1917 partly or wholly permeable to radiation < radiolucent tissues > • radiolucency noun …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • radiolucent — adjective almost complete transparent to X rays or other forms of radiation radiolucent tissues • Ant: ↑radiopaque …   Useful english dictionary

  • radiolucent — radiolucence, radiolucency, n. /ray dee oh looh seuhnt/, adj. almost entirely transparent to radiation; almost entirely invisible in x ray photographs and under fluoroscopy. Cf. radiopaque, radiotransparent. [1915 20; RADIO + LUCENT] * * * …   Universalium

  • radiolucent — adjective transparent to X rays Ant: radiopaque …   Wiktionary

  • radiolucent — adj. transparent to radiation, allowing radiation to pass through …   English contemporary dictionary

  • radiolucent — ra·dio·lu·cent …   English syllables

  • radiolucent — ra•di•o•lu•cent [[t]ˌreɪ di oʊˈlu sənt[/t]] adj. med almost entirely transparent to radiation; almost entirely invisible in x ray photographs and under fluoroscopy • Etymology: 1915–20 ra di•o•lu′cence, ra di•o•lu′cen•cy, n …   From formal English to slang

  • radiolucent — /ˌreɪdioʊˈlusənt/ (say .raydeeoh loohsuhnt) adjective partly or wholly permeable to X rays or other forms of radiation, and therefore not showing up in an X ray photograph. Compare radiopaque …  

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