Articles
Articles are a collaborative effort to provide a single canonical page on all topics relevant to the practice of radiology. As such, articles are written and continuously improved upon by countless contributing members. Our dedicated editors oversee each edit for accuracy and style. Find out more about articles.
More than 200 results
Article
Tinnitus causes (mnemonic)
A mnemonic to remember the commonest causes of tinnitus is:
HAMMER
Mnemonic
H: hypertension
A: anemia / acoustic neuroma
M: migraine / Menière's disease
M: medication (quinine, NSAIDs, streptomycin)
E: ear pathology (wax, foreign body, otitis media)
R: rare (temporomandibular joint ...
Article
Miliary lung nodules (mnemonic)
The list of differential diagnoses for miliary lung nodules can be recalled with the mnemonic:
TEMPEST
Mnemonic
TEMPEST
T: tuberculosis
E: eosinophilic granuloma
M: metastases (especially thyroid)
P: pneumoconiosis
E: extrinsic allergic alveolitis (now known as hypersensitivity pneumonit...
Article
Postpartum hemorrhage risk factors (mnemonic)
A mnemonic to remember the basic risk factors of postpartum hemorrhage is:
PARTUM
Mnemonic
P: prolonged labor / polyhydramnios / previous C-section
A: APH
R: recent Hx of bleeding
T: twins
U: uterine fibrosis
M: multiparity
Article
Branches of the external carotid artery (mnemonic)
Mnemonics for the branches of the external carotid artery abound. A few colorful examples include:
Some American Ladies Found Our Pyramids Most Satisfactory
Some Anatomists Like Freaking Out Poor Medical Students
She Always Likes Friends Over Papa, Mama, and Sister
There are many many many ...
Article
Stellate breast lesions: causes (mnemonic)
A handy mnemonic to recall the causes of a stellate breast lesion is:
STARFACE
Mnemonic
S: summation shadow
T: tumor (i.e. invasive breast cancer)
A: abscess
R: radial scar
F: fibroadenoma / fat necrosis
A: adenosis (sclerosing)
CE: other causes, hematoma (e.g. postoperative, post biops...
Article
Ejaculatory pathway of sperm (mnemonic)
A useful mnemonic to remember the ejaculatory pathway of sperm is:
SEVEN UP
Mnemonic
S: seminiferous tubules of the testes
E: epididymis
V: ductus deferens
E: ejaculatory duct
N: nothing
U: urethra
P: penis
Article
Subclavian artery branches (mnemonic)
Helpful mnemonics to remember the branches of the subclavian artery include:
Very Indignant Tired Individuals Sip Tasty Almond Coffee Served Double Daily
VIT C, D (as in vitamins C and D)
Mnemonics
Very Indignant Tired Individuals Sip Tasty Almond Coffee Served Double Daily
V: vertebral art...
Article
Rotator cuff (mnemonic)
Mnemonics to recall the muscles of the rotator cuff are:
SITS
TISS
Mnemonic
S: supraspinatus
I: infraspinatus
T: teres minor
S: subscapularis
With 'SITS', recalling this order also helps remember the insertions of these muscles, with the order being superior, middle, and inferior facets ...
Article
Hair on end sign (mnemonic)
The hair on end sign refers to a radiographic appearance of the diploic space of the skull vault which results from a thickening of trabeculae as the diploic space expands. These trabeculae are perpendicular in orientation, interspersed by radiolucent marrow hyperplasia along with skull vault.
...
Article
Dialysis indications (mnemonic)
A mnemonic to remember the basic indications of dialysis is
HAVE PEE
Mnemonic
H: hyperkalemia (refractory)
A: acidosis (refractory)
V: volume overload
E: elevated BUN > 35 mM
P: pericarditis
E: encephalopathy
E: edema (pulmonary)
Article
Branches of internal carotid artery (mnemonic)
Useful mnemonics to remember the branches of the internal carotid artery is:
A VIP'S COMMA
Calming Voices Make Intra-Operative Surgery Pleasurable And Almost Memorable
Carotid Vessels Mnemonic Instantly Offers Super Powers And Aids Memory
Mnemonics
A VIP'S COMMA
A: anterior choroidal arter...
Article
Renal papillary necrosis (mnemonic)
Mnemonics for the causes of renal papillary necrosis are plentiful and include:
NSAID
POSTCARDS
AD SPORT C: a list of causes in decreasing order of incidence
DINASOR
Mnemonics
NSAID
Most common causes:
N: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
S: sickle cell disease
A: acetamin...
Article
Salter-Harris fracture classification (mnemonic)
Useful mnemonics for remembering the Salter-Harris classification system are:
SALTR
SMACK
SMETI
Fortunately, this is also the order of prognosis (from best to worse)
Mnemonics
SALTR
S: slipped (type I)
A: above or away from joint (type II)
L: lower (type III)
T: through or transverse o...
Article
Hydronephrosis (mnemonic)
The causative factors leading to hydronephrosis can be recalled using this mnemonic:
RUNS
Mnemonic
R: retroperitoneal fibrosis
U: urolithiasis
N: neoplastic mass (cervical cancer)
S: stenosis of pelvi-ureteric junction
Article
Conditions with upper lobe predominance (mnemonic)
Useful mnemonics to remember conditions with upper lobe predominance in chest radiology are:
STEP
BREASTS
SHORTI
A TEA SHOP
SET CAP
Mnemonics
STEP
S: sarcoidosis, silicosis
T: tuberculosis
E: eosinophilic pneumonia
P: pneumoconiosis
BREASTS
B: berylliosis
R: radiation fibrosis
E: ...
Article
Lucent/lytic bone lesion - differential diagnosis (mnemonic)
Mnemonics for the differential diagnosis of lucent/lytic bone lesions include:
FEGNOMASHIC
FOG MACHINES
They are anagrams of each other and therefore include the same components. They are by no means exhaustive lists, but are a good start for remembering a differential for a lucent/lytic bone...
Article
Diffuse bone marrow infiltration on MRI (mnemonic)
A mnemonic to remember differentials causing diffuse bone marrow infiltration on MRI. Bone marrow infiltration is best evaluated on T1 sequences and may be focal or diffuse. Focal infiltration is seen in metastases and lymphoma. The diffuse pattern is seen more commonly in multiple myeloma, mast...
Article
Tumors that metastasize to bone (mnemonic)
Tumors that metastasize to bone may be remembered using the mnemonic "PBKTL", rendered as "lead kettle", as "Pb" is the standard abbreviation for the chemical element, lead.
PB-KTL
Mnemonic
P: prostate
B: breast
K: kidney
T: thyroid
L: lung
For females, breast and lung are the most commo...
Article
Cholinergic crisis (mnemonic)
Mnemonics for the clinical features associated with cholinergic crisis comprise:
MDS' BEDBUG LB
FW HRCT
CDS' CASA
Mnemonics
MDS' BEDBUG LB
Colloquially denoting "MDs' Bedbug Pound," with pound semantically signaled by the letters "Lb", this mnemonic corresponds to the clinical features of...
Article
Conditions with lower lobe predominance (mnemonic)
Mnemonics for conditions with a lower lobe predominance in chest radiology include:
CIA
BAD AS
RASCO
Mnemonics
CIA
C: collagen vascular diseases
I: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
A: asbestosis
BAD AS
B: bronchiectasis
A: aspiration pneumonia
D: drugs; desquamative interstitial pneumon...