Medical Informatics and Display Systems Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards generated from the Radiologic Technology / Medical Informatics Prelim & Midterm Examination Reviewer.

Conventional Film/Screen Radiograph

Uses x-ray passing through a body to strike a light-emitting intensifying screen inside a cassette.

Negatoscope / Viewbox

A large multi-viewer light box used for viewing or interpreting images.

Monitor

Computer hardware that displays images, videos, or graphical information; one of the most important elements in a PACS display situation.

CRT Monitors

The most popular monitors traditionally in the consumer and clinical market.

LCD Monitors

Produces images by shining/reflecting light through liquid crystals and color filters.

Plasma Display Monitors

Display technology commonly used in military and government visual setups.

Image Matrix

An arrangement of pixels in a rectangular or square table of numerical values.

Gray Level

Other technical term for bit depth in digital image processing.

Bit Depth

Represents the number of bits per pixel, defining shade depth and numerical gray levels assigned to each pixel within a digital image matrix.

Dot Triad

A phosphor grouping triad consisting of one red, one green, and one blue dot.

Dot Pitch

Measurement of how close dots/pixels are located adjacent to one another.

Resolution

Refers to the total number of pixels available across a display matrix.

Spatial Resolution

The process of distinguishing between individual adjacent parts of an image, or the ability of a system to resolve and separate small structural forms placed close together.

Detail Resolution

Alternative descriptive term for spatial resolution in radiologic imaging.

Spatial Frequency

Measurement expressed as the number of line pairs per given unit length ($\text{lp/mm}$).

Contrast Resolution

Ability of the system to differentiate structures varying in density from surroundings.

Sensitivity of the System

Alternative term describing contrast resolution capabilities in image systems.

High Subject Contrast

Contrast type where anatomical structures exhibit distinct differences and are easy to see.

Low Subject Contrast

Contrast type where anatomical structures share almost identical density appearances.

Low Contrast Detectability

Ability to distinguish an object that has nearly identical density to its background.

Linear Attenuation Coefficient

Physical parameter characterizing the fraction of x-ray attenuation per tissue thickness.

Temporal Resolution

Refers to the rate and speed at which dynamic frame data can be acquired.

Refresh Rate

Measures how fast a monitor rewrites or redraws the display screen per second.

Aspect Ratio

The proportional ratio of monitor display width relative to display height.

Viewable Area

Diagonal measurement from one corner of the display to the opposite corner.

Glare

Visual sensation produced by luminance causing annoyance, discomfort, or reduced sight.

Direct Glare

Type of glare emanating directly from bright light sources like unshielded bulbs or sunlight.

Reflected Glare

Glare caused by ambient room light reflecting off the surface of the display screen.

Veiling Glare

Term used when screen reflection light is diffusely scattered across the image.

Display Workstations

Interactive PACS hardware setup consisting of monitor, computer, mouse, and keyboard.

Radiologist Reading Station

High-resolution station utilized primarily by radiologists to render primary diagnoses.

Physician Review Station

Station used by referring physicians to review patient reports alongside image data.

Technologist's QC Station

Station used by technologists to evaluate image quality prior to transmission to PACS.

Navigation Function

Software functionality used to move through images, patient series, and study lists.

Image Manipulation / Enhancement

Tools used to actively alter, optimize, and enhance digital image appearance.

Hanging Protocol

Pre-defined automated format determining how image sets are displayed on screens.

Study Navigation

The process of scrolling through, opening, and evaluating multi-image medical studies.

Cine

Dynamic stack mode enabling rapid frame-by-frame image loop playback.

Window / Level

Standard default action of the primary mouse button on active diagnostic viewports, used for contrast and brightness adjustment.

Window

Parameter representing the total range of displayed gray scale values (contrast).

Level

Parameter representing the midpoint center of displayed gray shades (brightness).

Annotations

Overlay text tool NOT permitted for legal side labeling (Left/Right identification).

Flip and Rotate

Tool used to properly reorient images into standard anatomical viewing position.

Pan, Zoom, and Magnify

Functions designed to modify image viewing size and navigate magnified regions.

Pan

Tool used to drag zoomed or magnified images across the display viewport.

Magnify

Function that temporarily enlarges a defined square region over the image.

Zoom

Scales the entire displayed image up or down to desired visual proportions.

Measurements

Tool calculating linear distance, angles, or dimensions of anatomical structures.

Region of Interest (ROI)

Calculates mean pixel density value and area metrics within a defined shape.

Image Management Functions

Functions responsible for editing demographics and performing database searches.

Query Function

Allows search queries across fields like Patient Name, ID, Modality, and Date.

CD Burning Option

Export feature allowing export of studies and viewer software to optical disks.

Advanced Workstation Functions

Specialized post-processing tools installed on advanced 3D workstations.

Multiplanar Reconstruction (MPR)

Reconstructs 3D volumetric image data into coronal, sagittal, or oblique planes.

Maximum Intensity Projection (MIP)

Evaluates voxels along a ray path and displays only the highest attenuation value; used extensively for CTA/MRA contrast-filled vascular studies.

Minimum Intensity Projection (MinIP)

Evaluates voxels along a ray path and displays only the lowest attenuation value; used for air-filled lungs, bronchial trees, and pancreatic ducts.

Volume Rendering Technique (VRT)

3D technique assigning color and opacity values to different tissue density.

Medical Imaging Informatics

Subspecialty domain commonly referred to as radiology informatics.

Information Science

Field analyzing collection, classification, storage, retrieval, and protection of data.

Information Technology

Includes development, implementation, and management of computer systems.

Computer Science

Study of computer computation, algorithms, hardware architectures, and software.

Computer Technology

Broad term covering electronic devices and technologies driven by a CPU.

Biomedicine

Medical field applying biological and biochemical principles to medical practice.

Digital Biomedicine

Domain utilizing digital technologies as tools for human health monitoring.

Telemedicine

Delivery of clinical healthcare services and consultations remotely via communications.

Healthcare Information Technology

Use of electronic systems to securely capture, share, and analyze health information, enabling seamless and secure health information exchange between providers and patients.

Electronic Medical Record (EMR)

All-in-one digital repository storing patient clinical records within an enterprise.

E-Prescribing

System enabling clinicians to transmit digital drug prescriptions directly to pharmacies.

DICOM

Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine; a global standard protocol governing medical image exchange, data formatting, and storage.

PACS

Picture Archiving and Communication System; a networked platform dedicated to medical image acquisition, archiving, and distribution.

RIS

Radiology Information System; a system managing radiology department scheduling, tracking, and report archives.

HIS

Hospital Information System; main enterprise hospital software handling patient billing, registration, and ordering.

Digital Imaging

Allows multi-format text, visual media, and interactive models to display across networks.

Binary Number System

Base-2 numerical standard utilizing only two states or discrete symbols: 0 and 1.

Transistor

Microscopic electronic solid-state switches handling computer logic processing.

Bit

The fundamental atomic unit of binary data representing a single 0 or 1.

Byte

Data unit comprised of exactly 8 consecutive bits.

Word

Standard architecture block composed of 2 contiguous bytes (16 bits).

Chomp

Data grouping consisting of 2 words / 4 bytes (32 bits / Double Word).

Input Devices

Peripheral devices used to enter raw data or commands into a computer system.

Output Devices

Peripheral equipment converting system calculations into human-readable media.

Processing Devices

System hardware responsible for executing instructions and computing operations.

BIOS

Basic Input/Output System; firmware chip containing initial system boot routines and hardware diagnostics.

Laser Film Digitizers

High-precision scanners considered the reference gold standard for film digitizing.

Nibble

Data unit consisting of exactly half a byte (4 bits).

Printers

Hardcopy output devices generating physical film or paper prints from PACS.

Imaging Informatics

Integrative IT systems enabling transition to paperless and film-less departments; specialty focused on capture, storage, analysis, and display of imaging data.

Serial Port

Legacy hardware connection interface typically utilizing 9-pin or 25-pin DB connectors.

HL-7

Health Level Seven Protocol Standard.

SSD

Shaded-Surface Display.

HIPAA

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

OCS

Order Entry System / Order Communications System.

EPR

Electronic Patient Record.

SCSI

Small Computer System Interface.

CMOS

Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor.

IDE

Integrated Drive Electronics.