Letter S
S-SHAPED
Refers to a scoliosis of the spine that looks like the letter S. It bends both to the right and to the left.
SAGITTAL
An MR term used to describe the way the organ is scanned. A sagittal scan is like slicing the body from the front of the nose to the back.
SALTER HARRIS
Classification of broken bone in children. 4 types depending on what part of bone is involved in the broken bone.
SCAPULA
The shoulder blade bone.
SCARRING
This usually happens after breast surgery. The typical scarring can be seen on the skin. Underneath the skin, the usual arrangement (pattern) of the glandular tissue can be distorted. This is also call archetictural distortion.
SCATTERED AREAS OF FIBROGLANDULAR DENSITY
This phrase is used in the standard sentence, “There are scattered areas of fibroglandular density.” It means that the breast is composed of 25%-50% glandular tissue. Cancer looks like a white spot on a mammogram. Normal glandular tissue is also white on a mammogram. When there is more glandular tissue in the breast, cancer is harder to see/detect.
As an analogy, imagine trying to spot a white bear when it is snowing outside (in the North Pole). If it is snowing lightly, the white bear should be easy to detect. If there is a raging snow storm (blizzard), the white bear will be difficult to detect.
Back to the mammogram…When there is 25%-50% glandular tissue, cancer can be “hidden” in the glandular tissue, but often , cancer will be detected, if it is present.
SCOLIOSIS
Refers to the abnormal curvature of the spine. A scoliosis means that the spinal alignment is not normal or straight. There are different types and severities of scoliosis.
SCROTAL
Anything related to scrotum, where testicles are found.
SEBACEOUS CYST
A pocket filled with keratin. It is within or just underneath the skin. It can be simply thought of as a “zit”. It is not cancerous.
SECRETORY DISEASE
Benign process of the breast that causes rod-shaped calcifications. Please see “rod-shaped calcifications”.
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