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
Chondrocalcinosis (mnemonic)
Mnemonics for chondrocalcinosis include:
3 Cs
HOGWASH
Mnemonics
3 Cs
C: crystals e.g. CPPD, sodium urate (gout)
C: cations e.g. calcium (any cause of hypercalcaemia), copper, iron
C: cartilage degeneration (e.g. osteoarthritis, acromegaly, ochronosis)
HOGWASH
H: hyperparathyroidism, hy...
Article
Idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (mnemonic)
Idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs) are diffuse interstitial lung diseases of unknown cause. A useful mnemonic for the American Thoracic Society-European Respiratory Society (ATS-ERS) classification of IIPs is:
All Idiopathic Chronic Lung Disease aRe Nonspecifically Patterned
The mnemoni...
Article
Bochdalek hernia features (mnemonic)
A helpful mnemonic for remembering the features of a Bochdalek hernia is:
5 Bs
Mnemonic
B: Bochdalek
B: big
B: back and lateral, usually on the left side
B: baby
B: bad (associated with pulmonary hypoplasia)
To remember the side in which a Bochdalek hernia more commonly occurs (and to co...
Article
Pulmonary cavity (mnemonic)
A particularly helpful mnemonic for causes of pulmonary cavities is:
CAVITY
Mnemonic
C: cancer
lung cancer: most frequently squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)
cavitary pulmonary metastasis(es): most frequently SCC
A: autoimmune; granulomas from
granulomatosis with polyangiitis
rheumatoid ar...
Article
Elbow ossification (mnemonic)
Mnemonics for elbow ossification include CRITOE and CRITOL. These are essentially the same, apart from the terminal letter which represents the External or Lateral epicondyle.
Mnemonics
CRITOE
C: capitellum
R: radial head
I: internal epicondyle
T: trochlea
O: olecranon
E: external epicon...
Article
Extraocular muscle involvement in thyroid associated orbitopathy (mnemonic)
A mnemonic to remember the order in which extraocular muscles are involved in thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) is:
I'M SLOw
Mnemonic
I: inferior rectus
M: medial rectus
S: superior rectus
L: lateral rectus
O: obliques muscles (superior oblique and inferior oblique)
There is some deba...
Article
Superior orbital fissure (mnemonic)
A mnemonic for all structures passing through the superior orbital fissure (superior to inferior) is:
Long Fissures Seem To Store Only Nerves, Instead Of Arteries, Including Ophthalmic Veins
Mnemonics for the nerves passing through the superior orbital fissure include:
Lazy French Tarts Sit N...
Article
Haemorrhagic intracranial metastases (mnemonic)
A mnemonic for primary malignancies responsible for haemorrhagic intracranial metastases is:
MR CT BB
MR CT HBO
Mnemonic
MR CT BB
M: melanoma
R: renal cell carcinoma
C: choriocarcinoma
T: thyroid carcinoma, teratoma
B: bronchogenic carcinoma
B: breast carcinoma
MR CT HBO
M: melanoma
...
Article
Cavernous sinus contents (mnemonic)
The cavernous sinus contents (structures within the sinus proper and also in its lateral wall) and their relative positions can be recalled with the following mnemonic:
O TOM CAT
Consider a coronal view of the cavernous sinus.
'O TOM' are the first letters of components of the lateral wall of...
Article
Osteonecrosis causes (mnemonic)
Mnemonics for the causes of osteonecrosis (previously known as avascular necrosis):
STARS
PLASTIC RAGS
ASEPTIC
Mnemonics
STARS
Most common causes:
S: steroids, SLE
T: trauma (e.g. femoral neck fracture, hip dislocation, scaphoid fracture, slipped capital femoral epiphysis 2)
A: alcohol ...
Article
Brachial plexus root subdivisions (mnemonic)
Mnemonics for brachial plexus root subdivisions include:
Rad Techs Drink Cold Beer
Robbie T Drinks Cold Beer
Rugby Teams Drink Cold Beers
Reach To Drink Cold Beer
Read That Damn Cadaver Book
Really Tired, Don't Care Now (nerve instead of branch)
Red Toucans Don't Come Back
Mnemonic
Whe...
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
Internal auditory canal nerves (mnemonic)
A mnemonic to remember the relative position of nerves inside the internal auditory canal (IAC) is:
Seven up, Coke down
A variation may include the addition of:
V8 on the back shelf
Anatomy
Four nerves pass through the IAC:
facial nerve (CN VII)
three components of the vestibulocochlear n...
Article
Facial nerve branches (mnemonic)
There are many mnemonics to recall the branches of the facial nerve (superior to inferior) as they exit the anterior border of the parotid gland. Examples include:
Tall Zulus Bear Many Children
Two Zebras Bit My Coccyx
To Zanzibar By Motor Car
Mnemonic
T: temporal
Z: zygomatic
B: buccal
...
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
Cerebral ring enhancing lesions (mnemonic)
Convenient mnemonics for the causes of cerebral ring-enhancing lesions are:
MAGIC DR or DR MAGIC
DR MAGIC L
MAGICAL DR
Mnemonics
MAGIC DR or DR MAGIC
M: metastasis
A: abscess
G: glioblastoma
I: infarct (subacute phase) or inflammatory (neurocysticercosis, tuberculoma)
C: contusion
D: ...
Article
Pituitary region mass (mnemonic)
Useful mnemonics for remembering the differentials for pituitary region masses (in addition to macroadenoma) are:
SATCHMO/STOMACH 1,2
MOuSTACHE
SOME ACTH HORMONE
Mnemonics
SATCHMO/STOMACH
S: sarcoid
A: aneurysm
T: teratoma or tuberculosis (and other granulomatous diseases)
C: cranioph...
Article
Cerebellopontine angle mass (mnemonic)
Mnemonics for the common cerebellopontine angle masses include:
AMEN or MEAN
SAME
ANGLES
Mnemonics
AMEN/MEAN
A: acoustic neuroma (a.k.a. vestibular schwannoma) (~80%)
M: meningioma (~10%)
E: ependymoma (~5%)
N: neuroepithelial cyst (arachnoid/epidermoid) (~5%)
SAME
S: schwannoma
ves...
Article
Causes of oligohydramnios (mnemonic)
A helpful mnemonic for remembering some causes of oligohydramnios is:
DRIPPC
Mnemonic
D: demise
R: renal abnormalities (decreased urine output)
I: IUGR
P: premature rupture of membranes
P: post-dates
C: chromosomal anomalies
Article
Neurofibromatosis type 2 (mnemonic)
Useful mnemonics for neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) are:
MISME
rule of 2s
Mnemonics
MISME
M: multiple
I: inherited
S: schwannomas
M: meningiomas and
E: ependymomas
In fact, labelling this disorder neurofibromatosis type 2 is a misnomer, because neurofibromas are not a part of its cons...