BIOPSY MARKER (CLIP)
This is a small piece of metal (usually titanium) that is placed at the location of the biopsy within the breast. This is done because sometimes a mass or calcification can be hard to see after a biopsy. If the biopsy results turn out to be cancerous, the biopsy marker will allow the radiologist to relocate the area of concern. Then, the radiologist can mark the spot so that the surgeon can cut out the area of concern. The marker (clip) comes in many different shapes. Some of the common shapes are ribbon, wing and coil.
BLASTIC
Bone forming. Appears bright on CT.
BLOOD BRAIN BARRIER
Also called the “BBB”. It is a normal structure that keeps blood in the blood vessels separate from the brain tissue. Different diseases like infection, injury, or tumor can damage the BBB and cause blood to leak into the brain.
BOCKDALEK HERNIA
A congenital hernia that occurs when there is a defect in the diaphragm with abdominal fat (or organs) bulging into the chest.
BODY
Can refer to the main part of an organ. For example, body of the stomach is the main portion of the stomach.
BOERHAAVE’S SYNDROME
Rupture of the esophagus, typically caused by strained vomiting. This can cause pneumomediastinum on a chest x-ray.
BONE ISLAND
A benign or non-cancerous growth of bone inside of bone. Is usually of no consequence but can be confused with a tumor.
BONE MARROW
Substance that makes up the inner portion of the bone.
BONE SCAN
Nuclear Medicine exam that lights up any active process of the bone such as fracture, bone cancer, infection, etc. Very good (sensitive) at picking up the abnormal bone but cannot tell apart one process from another reliably. Usually need other exams like x-ray or CT to tell what is causing the abnormal finding.
BRAIN STEM
The base of the brain. It is the oldest part of our brain and helps us do things like breathing and blinking. If you think of the brain like a piece of cauliflower, the brain stem is the stalk.