Imaging & Radiology · Medical Imaging · Medium

Hypointense

Meaning: Describes an area appearing darker than surrounding tissue on an MRI sequence.

In practice: Haemosiderin from old bleeding appears hypointense on gradient echo sequences.

Word parts

  • hypo- means below or less than normal

Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.

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Which word means: A single cross-sectional image from a CT or MRI scan.

Which word means: Relating to the periosteum — the outer layer of bone — often seen reacting on X-ray.

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