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.
311 results found
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
Femoral triangle boundaries (mnemonic)
A mnemonic for the boundaries of the femoral triangle is:
SAIL
This should be easy to remember because the femoral triangle is shaped like a sail.
Mnemonic
S: sartorius
A: adductor longus
IL: inguinal ligament
Article
Lumbar plexus roots (mnemonic)
A handy mnemonic to recall the roots of the lumbar plexus is:
2 from 1, 2 from 2, 2 from 3
Mnemonic
2 nerves from 1 root: ilioinguinal (L1), iliohypogastric (L1)
2 nerves from 2 roots: genitofemoral (L1/L2), lateral femoral cutaneous (L2/L3)
2 nerves from 3 roots: obturator (L2/L3/L4), femo...
Article
Bone lesion description (mnemonic)
A mnemonic for describing bone lesions (of any type) in a general order and logical order:
General: CAMPS
Logical: All Sensible People Must Make Clear/Proper Sense
Mnemonics
CAMPS
C: cortical response
A: age
M: margins, matrix
P: pattern of destruction, periosteal reaction
S: site, soft...
Article
Cannonball metastasis (mnemonic)
Cannonball metastases refer to multiple large, well-circumscribed, round pulmonary metastases. Numerous primary tumors have been described presenting with cannonball metastases, however, some primary tumors have a predilection for this presentation.
It should be noted that it is difficult to f...
Article
Soft tissue calcification (mnemonic)
Mnemonics to remember the causes of soft tissue calcification include:
My GHOSTS 1
TIC MTV 2
Mnemonics
My GHOSTS
My: myositis ossificans
G: gout
H: hyperparathyroidism
O: ochronosis
S: scleroderma/connective tissue diseases
T: tumoral calcinosis
S: sarcoma (synovial cell)
TIC MTV
T:...
Article
Lymphangitic carcinomatosis (mnemonic)
A mnemonic for the causes of lymphangitic carcinomatosis is:
Certain Cancers Spread By Plugging The Lymphatics
Mnemonic
C: cervix
C: colon
S: stomach
B: breast
P: prostate and pancreas
T: thyroid
L: larynx and lung
Another mnemonic to remember most common causes are BLS (Basic Life Sup...
Article
Primitive arteries in the brain (mnemonic)
The primitive arteries in the brain can be remembered by the following mnemonic:
HOT MAP
Mnemonic
H: hypoglossal
O: otic
T: trigeminal
M: meningohypophyseal
A: anterior choroidal
P: posterior inferior cerebellar (PICA)
The meningohypophyseal trunk and anterior choroidal and posterior in...
Article
Non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema (mnemonic)
The causes of non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema can be recalled with the following mnemonic:
NOT CARDIAC
Mnemonic
NOT CARDIAC
N: near drowning
O: O2 therapy/post-intubation pulmonary edema
T: trauma/transfusion (TRALI: transfusion-related acute lung injury)
C: CNS: neurogenic pulmonary ede...
Article
Emergency CT head (mnemonic)
A useful mnemonic which is used to read an emergency head CT scan is:
Blood Can Be Very Bad
Mnemonic
Using a systematic approach will help to ensure that significant neuropathology will not be missed.
B: blood
look for epidural hematoma, subdural hematoma, intraparenchymal hemorrhage, intra...
Article
Causes of sacroiliitis - symmetric vs asymmetric (mnemonic)
A mnemonic for remembering the symmetric vs asymmetric causes of sacroiliitis is:
PAIR
Mnemonic
P: psoriatic arthritis
A: ankylosing spondylitis
I: inflammatory bowel disease related
R: reactive (e.g. reactive arthritis)
The asymmetric letters (P and R) are the asymmetric causes
The symm...
Article
Short metacarpals (mnemonic)
A mnemonic for remembering the causes of short metacarpals is:
BIC Pen
Mnemonic
B: basal cell nevus syndrome
I: idiopathic, infections
C: chromosomal: Turner syndrome
P: pseudohypoparathyroidism/pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism
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
Fingertip lesions (mnemonic)
A mnemonic for fingertip lesions is:
GEMS
Mnemonic
G: glomus tumor
E: epidermoid / enchondroma / subungual exostosis
M: metastasis (almost exclusively from lung)
S: sarcoidosis
Article
Eggshell calcification in thorax and mediastinum (mnemonic)
Helpful mnemonics to remember the major causes of eggshell calcification of the nodes in the thorax and mediastinum are:
A Silly Cool Sergeant Likes His Tubercular Blast
Sam Smith Likes His Smart ABC Mnemonic
Mnemonics
A Silly Cool Sergeant Likes His Tubercular Blast
A: amyloidosis
S: sil...
Article
Wormian bones (mnemonic)
A mnemonic to remember ten of the numerous conditions associated with Wormian bones is:
PORKCHOPS
Mnemonic
P: pyknodysostosis
O: osteogenesis imperfecta
R: rickets
K: kinky hair syndrome
C: cleidocranial dysostosis
H: hypothyroidism/hypophosphatasia
O: otopalatodigital syndrome
P: prim...
Article
T2 hyperintense basal ganglia (mnemonic)
A helpful mnemonic to recall the causes of T2 hyperintense basal ganglia is:
LINT
Mnemonic
L: lymphoma
I: ischemia
N: neurodegenerative conditions
T: toxins
See also
For a more detailed differential please see the basal ganglia T2 hyperintensity article.
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
Meniscofemoral ligament (mnemonic)
A useful mnemonic for how the meniscofemoral ligaments course in relation to the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is:
the posterior meniscofemoral ligament (of Wrisberg) rides the PCL (i.e. is posterosuperior)
the anterior meniscofemoral ligament (of Humphrey) is humped by the PCL (i.e. is an...
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...
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.