Diagnostic Medical Sonographer; Cardiovascular Technologists/Technician; Nuclear Medicine Technologists; Surgical Technologist

Key terms: (33) page 363

1. abdominal sonographer
   ultrasound technician who specializes in inspecting a patient’s abdominal cavity to help diagnose and treat conditions

2. breast sonographer
   ultrasound technician who specializes in studying diseases of the breasts

3. cardiographic technician
   professional who specializes in vascular technology and performs noninvasive tests such as echocardiograms

4. cardiopulmonary technologist
   professional who assists the physician in treating and diagnosing heart and lung ailments

5. cardiovascular invasive specialist
   professional who assists physicians in diagnosing and treating heart and blood vessel ailments through the use of invasive procedures

6. cardiovascular technician
   professional who focuses on performing noninvasive tests such as echocardiograms

7. cardiovascular technologist
   professional who assists physicians by performing complex medical tests involving the heart and pulmonary system

8. diagnostic imaging
   the use of an image of a body part created by radiographic techniques to aid in a diagnosis

9. diagnostic medical sonography
   use of sound waves to generate an image for the assessment and diagnosis of various medical conditions

10. echocardiographer
    technologist who uses ultrasound to examine the heart chambers, valves, and vessels

11. ECG (electrocardiogram)
    an instrument for recording the changes of electrical potential occurring during the heart beat that is used to diagnose abnormalities of the heart

12. electrocardiograph technician
    cardiovascular technician who specializes in ECGs, stress testing, and Holter monitor procedures

13. gamma scintillation camera
    scanner used to take pictures of radioisotopes as they pass through a patient’s body

14. high-frequency transducers
    ultrasound transducer  used exclusively for the study of breast tissue

15. Holter monitoring
    a pertable device that makes a continuous record of electrical activity of the heart in order to detect episodes of abnormal heart rhythms

16. invasive cardiology
    a heart specialty that requires the insertion of probes or other instruments into the patient’s body

17. MRI (magnetic resonance scanner)
    a noninvasive diagnostic technique based on nuclear magnetic resonance of atoms within the body induces by the application of radio waves to produce computerized images of internal body issues

18. neurosonographer
    ultrasound technician who focuses on the nervous system, including the brain

19. noninvasive procedures
    technical care that does not require the insertion of probes or other instruments into the patient’s body

20. NCT (nuclear cardiology technologist)
    operates imaging devices that require the use of radionuclides for diagnosis

21. nuclear medicine
    branch of radiology that uses radionuclides in the diagnosis and treaatment of disease

22. CT technologist (nuclear medicine computer tomography)
    combines the use of radioisotopes with X-rays to create two-dimensional or three-dimensional images inside the human body

23. obstetric and gynecologic sonographer
    ultrasound technician  who specializes in the female reproductive system

24. positron emission scanner/tomography (PET)
    nuclear medicine imaging technique that produces a three-dimensional image of body processes

25. PET technologist
    an imaging specialist who prepares and delivers to patients radioactive drugs for diagnosis and medical research

26. radionuclides
    unstable atoms that emit radiation spontaneously

27. radiopharmaceuticals
    radioactive drugs

28. sonographer
    an individual who collects reflected echoes and forms an image that may be videotaped, transmitted, or photographed for interpretation and diagnosis by a physician

29. stress testing
    monitors the heart’s performance while the patient is walking on a treadmill, gradually increasing the treadmill's speed to observe the effect of increased exertion on the heart

30. surgical technologist
    a technologist who assists in surgical operations under the supervision of surgeons, RNs, or other surgical personnel

31. transesophageal echocardiography
    a form of testing that involves placing a tube in the patient’s esophagus to obtain ultrasound images

32. ultrasound machines
    an electronic device that uses vibrations of the same physical nature as sound to form a two-dimensional image used for the examination and measurement of internal body structures

33. vascular technologist
    technologist who assists physicians in the diagnosis of disorders affecting circulation