scanning [L, scandere, to climb] , a technique for carefully studying an area, organ, or system of the body by recording and displaying an image of the area. A concentration of a radioactive substance that has an affinity for a specific tissue may be administered intravenously to enhance the image. The liver, brain, and thyroid can be examined, tumors can be located, and function can be evaluated by various scanning techniques. See also specific scanning techniques. −scan, n., v.
