Word parts
What it means
A radiopaque material stops x-rays from passing through it, so it appears white or light on the image. Bone is naturally radiopaque. Surgical sponges, many catheters and tubes carry a radiopaque strip or marker, and contrast dye is radiopaque, so they can be seen on x-rayEKS-rayA picture of the inside of the body made with a small dose of radiation; also called a radiograph.Full entry . The opposite, a material that lets x-rays through and looks dark, is radiolucent.
For the nurse
In the operating room, every sponge used in a body cavity must be radiopaque so a retained sponge can be found on an x-ray if a count is wrong. The placement of a new feeding tube or central line is often confirmed by x-ray because the tube is radiopaque.
In a chart
"Count discrepancy of one radiopaque sponge; intraoperative x-ray ordered."
At a glance
| Spanish | radiopaco |
|---|---|
| Also written | radio-opaque, radiopacity |
Related terms
computed tomography
An imaging test that uses x-rays and a computer to make cross-section pictures of the inside of the body.
x-ray
A picture of the inside of the body made with a small dose of radiation; also called a radiograph.