Final answer:
Cotton wool radiopaque lesions are observable abnormalities on medical imaging scans that can indicate conditions like pneumonia or cancer. CT or MRI scans effectively localize these lesions, and radioisotope scans can specifically detect metastasized tumor cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase "cotton wool radiopaque lesions" is typically associated with medical imaging techniques, such as computed tomography (CT) scanning or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These lesions can appear on scans as structurally abnormal areas that are more opaque than the surrounding tissues. Commonly referred to as cotton wool spots, these lesions can indicate various conditions, including pneumonia where the radiograph may show consolidations that are opaque patches due to infection. Imaging techniques like CT or MRI are essential for accurately localizing and diagnosing these lesions. In cancer diagnosis, a radioisotope scan can be utilized, where isotopes attached to antibodies selectively bind to tumor cells, making them visible as dark spots on the scan in areas such as the armpits, neck, and groin indicating metastasized tumor cells.