radiodensity
ray-dee-oh-DEN-suh-tee
Definition
The degree to which a substance or tissue absorbs X-rays, appearing as a relative brightness on a medical imaging scan like a CT scan.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'radius' (ray) combined with 'density' from the Latin 'densus' (thick or crowded). It reflects the early 20th-century development of radiography, describing the physical property of materials that block or allow the passage of radiation.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe how muscle tissue appears on a CT scan, where it often looks brighter or dimmer depending on how much fat has infiltrated the tissue. It notes that while doctors historically used this imaging marker to predict patient health, it was found to be a less reliable predictor of survival than simple strength tests.
Muscle Health Emerges as Key Predictor of Cancer Patient Outcomes
Read the full article ↗Bioengineer.org