What does enhancing mean in medical terms?

Enhancing is a term used in medical imaging to describe the process of increasing the contrast between different tissues or structures in a medical image. This is done by using contrast agents, which are substances that selectively accumulate in certain tissues or structures and make them appear brighter or darker in the image.

Enhancing can be used to improve the visibility of lesions or abnormalities in medical images, such as tumors, cysts, or bleeding. It can also be used to highlight certain structures or organs in the body, such as the blood vessels or the heart.

There are many different types of contrast agents used in medical imaging, including:

* Iodinated contrast agents: These are the most commonly used contrast agents and are used in X-ray, computed tomography (CT), and angiography procedures.

* Gadolinium contrast agents: These are used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures.

* Ultrasound contrast agents: These are used in ultrasound procedures to improve the visibility of blood flow and other structures.

Enhancing is a safe and effective way to improve the quality of medical images and can help doctors to diagnose and treat medical conditions more effectively.