Neuro Radiology Glossary
100 terms total — 24 showing — Last updated 15 Sep 2026
colloid cyst
Benign cystic lesion typically located in the third ventricle that can cause intermittent hydrocephalus.
aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage
Bleeding into the subarachnoid space caused by rupture of an intracranial aneurysm, requiring emergency imaging and inte...
apparent diffusion coefficient
Quantitative measure of water molecule diffusion calculated from diffusion-weighted imaging, helpful in characterizing t...
arterial spin labeling
Non-contrast MRI perfusion technique using magnetically labeled blood as an endogenous tracer to measure cerebral blood...
arteriovenous malformation
Abnormal tangle of blood vessels with direct arterial-to-venous connections, bypassing normal capillary beds and carryin...
ASPECTS
Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score, a systematic method for quantifying early ischemic changes on non-contrast CT in...
blood-brain barrier
Selective physiological barrier that restricts passage of substances from blood to brain tissue, visible on imaging when...
BOLD
MRI technique measuring brain activity through blood oxygen level-dependent signal changes.
BOLD signal
Blood oxygen level-dependent signal used in functional MRI to detect brain activity based on hemodynamic changes.
cavernous malformation
Vascular anomaly consisting of enlarged capillary spaces without normal brain tissue, showing characteristic popcorn app...
cerebellar tonsillar ectopia
Abnormal inferior displacement of the cerebellar tonsils below the foramen magnum, measured on sagittal MRI.
cerebellar tonsillar herniation
Displacement of cerebellar tonsils through the foramen magnum, indicating increased intracranial pressure.
cerebral amyloid angiopathy
Vascular disorder caused by amyloid protein deposition in brain blood vessels, associated with lobar hemorrhages.
cerebral autoregulation
The brain's ability to maintain constant blood flow despite changes in perfusion pressure, assessable with perfusion ima...
cerebral microbleed
Small hemorrhagic lesions visible on susceptibility-sensitive MRI sequences, indicating underlying vasculopathy.
chemical shift artifact
MRI artifact causing spatial misregistration between fat and water signals, particularly visible at tissue interfaces.
Chiari malformation
Structural defect characterized by extension of cerebellar tonsils below the foramen magnum, potentially causing CSF flo...
choroid plexus
Vascular structure within brain ventricles that produces cerebrospinal fluid, commonly showing enhancement on MRI.
chronic lacunar infarct
Small, old stroke in deep brain structures appearing as fluid-filled cavity with surrounding gliosis.
Circle of Willis
The ring-like arterial structure at the base of the brain that provides collateral circulation between the anterior and...
CISS sequence
A heavily T2-weighted MRI sequence providing high-resolution imaging of CSF spaces and cranial nerves.
collateral circulation
Alternative blood flow pathways that develop or become prominent when primary vessels are occluded or severely stenotic.
colloid cyst
Benign cystic lesion typically located in the third ventricle that can cause intermittent hydrocephalus.
corpus callosum splenium
Posterior portion of the corpus callosum connecting the occipital and posterior temporal lobes bilaterally.
cortical dysplasia
Developmental malformation of cerebral cortex with abnormal neuronal organization, often causing epilepsy.