JANUARY
1978
Correspondence ICRU, 1959. Report of the International Commission on Radiological Units and Measurements. National Bureau of Standards (U.S.) Handbook 78. KNIPE, A. D., 1975. A revision of photon interaction data in the UKAEA nuclear data library. AEEW-M1368. SPIERS, F. W., 1969. Transition Zone Dosimetry. In Radiation Dosimetry, Ed. F. H. Attix, W. C. Roesch and E. Tochilin, Vol. Ill, pp. 809-867 (Academic Press, New York).
There has been correspondence in these columns recently about this topic (Farmer, 1976; Nicholson, 1976; Davies, 1977; Isherwood, 1977) but written from the rather different viewpoint of finding a name to describe and distinguish between X-ray transmission section scans, and radioisotope emission section scans. It seems to us that the problem is really much wider than this. Confusion may be caused by names based on initials (for example, TCAT and ECAT for transmission and emission computerized axial tomographs) which are only really understood by the "inner clique"; or new uses of the classical languages, which are often obscure to the uninitiated (e.g. zeugmatography for nuclear magnetic resonance imaging); or upon commercial names (e.g. EMI scan) which will not apply in a hospital with a machine of another manufacturer. It would be better to concentrate on combinations of commonly used and accepted names of any reasonable origin. This is more likely to be acceptable and come into common parlance, thereby clarifying the confusion. Yours, etc.,
THE EDITOR—SIR, NOMENCLATURE IN SCANNING INVESTIGATION
Since radioisotope (or radionuclide!) investigations are no longer unique in having a "scanning" procedure, the term has now become ambiguous. In-patients who have left the ward "to go for a scan" are becoming increasingly difficult to trace. In Aberdeen there are separate locations for gamma camera studies, rectilinear scanning, in vivo uptake tests and whole body counting, ultrasonic and thermographic studies, and X-ray cerebral scanning (EMI scanner). While the efficiency of having one word for one investigation is admirable, we really ought to be qualifying the word "scan" as a routine or else abandoning it altogether. Since there is little hope of abandoning it, the simplest solution is for the people who perform the investigations to be more specific in their terminology and make the effort of saying radioisotope scan, X-ray scan, ultrasound scan or thermal scan. Within each category again simple but specific terminology would keep everyone informed for example, with radioisotope scans there are conventional views and tomographic or section views. The important thing is to establish a working terminology which everyone in the hospital will understand and use in the interest of the patient.
W. I. KEYES, J. R. MALLARD.
Department of Medical Physics, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB9 2ZD REFERENCES DAVIES, E. R., 1977. Computerized tomographic scan terminology. British Journal of Radiology, 50, 77. FARMER, F. T., 1976. Terminology in computerized imaging. British Journal of Radiology, 49, 815. ISHERWOOD, I., 1977. Computerized tomographic scan terminology. British Journal of Radiology, 50, 374. NICHOLSON, J. P., 1976. New terminology needed. British Journal of Radiology, 49, 653.
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1978
Correspondence ICRU, 1959. Report of the International Commission on Radiological Units and Measurements. National Bureau of Standards (U.S.) Handbook 78. KNIPE, A. D., 1975. A revision of photon interaction data in the UKAEA nuclear data library. AEEW-M1368. SPIERS, F. W., 1969. Transition Zone Dosimetry. In Radiation Dosimetry, Ed. F. H. Attix, W. C. Roesch and E. Tochilin, Vol. Ill, pp. 809-867 (Academic Press, New York).
There has been correspondence in these columns recently about this topic (Farmer, 1976; Nicholson, 1976; Davies, 1977; Isherwood, 1977) but written from the rather different viewpoint of finding a name to describe and distinguish between X-ray transmission section scans, and radioisotope emission section scans. It seems to us that the problem is really much wider than this. Confusion may be caused by names based on initials (for example, TCAT and ECAT for transmission and emission computerized axial tomographs) which are only really understood by the "inner clique"; or new uses of the classical languages, which are often obscure to the uninitiated (e.g. zeugmatography for nuclear magnetic resonance imaging); or upon commercial names (e.g. EMI scan) which will not apply in a hospital with a machine of another manufacturer. It would be better to concentrate on combinations of commonly used and accepted names of any reasonable origin. This is more likely to be acceptable and come into common parlance, thereby clarifying the confusion. Yours, etc.,
THE EDITOR—SIR, NOMENCLATURE IN SCANNING INVESTIGATION
Since radioisotope (or radionuclide!) investigations are no longer unique in having a "scanning" procedure, the term has now become ambiguous. In-patients who have left the ward "to go for a scan" are becoming increasingly difficult to trace. In Aberdeen there are separate locations for gamma camera studies, rectilinear scanning, in vivo uptake tests and whole body counting, ultrasonic and thermographic studies, and X-ray cerebral scanning (EMI scanner). While the efficiency of having one word for one investigation is admirable, we really ought to be qualifying the word "scan" as a routine or else abandoning it altogether. Since there is little hope of abandoning it, the simplest solution is for the people who perform the investigations to be more specific in their terminology and make the effort of saying radioisotope scan, X-ray scan, ultrasound scan or thermal scan. Within each category again simple but specific terminology would keep everyone informed for example, with radioisotope scans there are conventional views and tomographic or section views. The important thing is to establish a working terminology which everyone in the hospital will understand and use in the interest of the patient.
W. I. KEYES, J. R. MALLARD.
Department of Medical Physics, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB9 2ZD REFERENCES DAVIES, E. R., 1977. Computerized tomographic scan terminology. British Journal of Radiology, 50, 77. FARMER, F. T., 1976. Terminology in computerized imaging. British Journal of Radiology, 49, 815. ISHERWOOD, I., 1977. Computerized tomographic scan terminology. British Journal of Radiology, 50, 374. NICHOLSON, J. P., 1976. New terminology needed. British Journal of Radiology, 49, 653.
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