Letter D
DECUBITUS
Type of patient position used for x-ray. Lying down on the side (instead of lying on your back or sitting up) to take an x-ray. This is done to see if there is “free air” in your abdomen or “water” in your chest.
DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS (DVT)
Blood clots in veins that are located deep in the body. They can cause pulmonary embolism (blood clots within vessels of the lungs), which can be a potentially life-threatening condition.
DEFORMITY
An abnormal appearance. Usually implies that a vertebra is abnormal or crushed.
DEGENERATIVE
“Wear and tear” of our body. Also known as arthritis.
DEGENERATIVE CHANGES
This can be thought of as age-related “wear and tear” changes. This term is commonly used to describe the spine on a chest x-ray.
DENS
The portion of the spinal column that looks like a “tooth”. It is part of the 2nd cervical segment or “C2”.
DENSITY
A white spot seen on a chest x-ray. This may represent an area of infection, compressed lung (atelectasis) or inflammation. Also known as “opacity” or “infiltrate”.
DENTATE NUCLEUS
There are two dentate nuclei located in the back of the cerebellum.
DENTIGEROUS CYST OF THE MANDIBLE OR MAXILLA
A cyst or fluid collection arising from a tooth that has not fully formed.
DEPENDENT
Adjective. This describes the part of the body that is closest to the ground. For a person lying down on his back, dependent lungs mean the posterior (back) part of the lungs. For a person lying on his stomach, dependent lungs mean the anterior (front) part of the lungs. For a person lying on his right side, dependent lung means the far right part of his right lung.
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