diagnostic procedure

Other forms: diagnostic procedures

Definitions of diagnostic procedure

1. noun

   a procedure followed in making a medical diagnosis
   synonyms: diagnostic technique

   types:

   prenatal diagnosis

   any of the diagnostic procedures used to determine whether a fetus has a genetic abnormality

   cardiography, electrocardiography

   diagnostic procedure consisting of recording the activity of the heart electronically with a cardiograph (and producing a cardiogram)

   echocardiography

   a noninvasive diagnostic procedure that uses ultrasound to study to structure and motions of the heart

   echoencephalography

   a noninvasive diagnostic procedure that uses ultrasound to study the anatomy of the brain

   auscultation

   listening to sounds within the body (usually with a stethoscope)

   X-ray photography, roentgenography

   radiography that uses X-rays to produce a roentgenogram

   electromyography

   diagnosis of neuromuscular disorders with the use of an electromyograph

   mammography

   a diagnostic procedure to detect breast tumors by the use of X rays

   thermography

   diagnostic technique using a thermograph to record the heat produced by different parts of the body; used to study blood flow and to detect tumors

   percussion, pleximetry

   tapping a part of the body for diagnostic purposes

   succussion

   shaking a person to determine whether a large amount of liquid is present in a body cavity

   echography, sonography, ultrasonography, ultrasound

   using the reflections of high-frequency sound waves to construct an image of a body organ (a sonogram); commonly used to observe fetal growth or study bodily organs

   angiography

   roentgenographic examination of blood vessels after injection of a radiopaque contrast medium; produces an angiogram

   arthrography

   roentgenographic examination of a joint after injection of radiopaque contrast medium; produces an arthrogram

   cholangiography

   roentgenographic examination of the bile ducts after a contrast medium has been injected

   encephalography

   roentgenography of the brain after spinal fluid has been replaced by a gas (usually oxygen); produces an encephalogram

   myelography

   roentgenography of the spinal cord to detect possible lesions (usually after injection of a contrast medium into the subarachnoid space)

   pyelography

   roentgenography of the kidney and ureters (usually after injection with a radiopaque dye)

   amnio, amniocentesis

   (pregnancy) extraction by centesis of amniotic fluid from a pregnant woman (after the 15th week of pregnancy) to aid in the diagnosis of fetal abnormalities

   fetoscopy, foetoscopy

   prenatal diagnosis that allows direct observation of a fetus in the uterus and the withdrawal of fetal blood

   mammothermography

   the use of thermography to detect breast tumors (which appear as hot spots)

   type of:

   procedure, process

   a particular course of action intended to achieve a result