What does Opaque mean on a ct

[crwstar]

Hi,

What does opaque mean on a ct scan? I can't seem to find a definitive answer for this.

Thank you so much.

[yellowbean]

Opaque means white....Basically think of X-rays like light coming through a window.  If you have bone or metal or something else dense the x-ray beams cannot pass through your body in that area, and on the x-ray that is depicted as white.  

Other terms are radioopaque and radiodense.

[Garry Choy, MD, MS]

Thanks yellowbean!  Agree 100% with your description.  

[crwstar]

Thank you for your response! I appreciate it.