Medical Encyclopedia: Ions (Print Version)

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Medical Encyclopedia: Ions

URL of this page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002385.htm

Alternative names

Cations; Anions

Definition

An ion is an atom or group of atoms that has an electric charge. Ions with a positive charge are called cations. Ions with a negative charge are called anions.

Ions can be created using radiation such as x-rays. Ionizing radiation is often used for diagnostic or therapeutic procedures, since the ions that are produced can be used to scan for or treat some diseases.

Related topics:

Adrenal medullary imaging
Bone scan
Gall bladder radionuclide scan
Gallium (ga.) scan
Isotope study
Liver scan
Lung gallium (ga.) scan
Nuclear ventriculography (MUGA or RNV)
Pulmonary ventilation/perfusion scan
Radioactive iodine uptake
Radionuclide cystogram
Renal venogram
RHISA scan
Thyroid scan
WBC (nuclear) scan

Update Date: 7/18/2007

Updated by: Stuart Bentley-Hibbert, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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