Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create real-time images of internal organs and tissues without using ionizing radiation. It is commonly used to diagnose pain, swelling, or infection and can also guide procedures such as needle biopsies. The patient should not experience pain or discomfort during the procedure, and normal activities can be resumed afterward.
Ultrasound, also called ultrasonography or ultrasonography, uses high-frequency sound waves to get a real-time picture of the inside of the body. The image shows the movement of blood and organs and the structure of internal tissues. Traditionally, a sonogram will show a flat presentation of the region being examined, but three-dimensional (3D) images are also possible, as are 4D images, which show moving 3D images. The picture is called an ultrasound or sonogram.
The technology behind ultrasound is similar to the way bats, dolphins and fishermen use sonar. When sound waves enter the atmosphere, they bounce off objects, creating an echo. When these echoed waves are measured, they can reveal the shape and motion of the object they hit. In an ultrasound, a transducer emits sound waves and records and measures them when they return. The transducer is pressed against the skin, which instantly produces an image of the examined internal organs.
Medical professionals use this technology to examine the inside of the body without using ionizing radiation. If a patient has pain, swelling, or an infection, a healthcare professional will commonly perform an ultrasound to make a diagnosis. An ultrasound is useful for examining the heart, blood vessels, unborn fetuses in pregnant patients, ovaries, thyroid glands, kidneys, and other organs. After a heart attack, the device can also be used to assess heart damage.
Ultrasounds are also used to guide procedures such as needle biopsies, in which abnormal cells are removed from the body for laboratory testing. This is especially common with breast biopsies. If there is a suspicion of clotting or other blood flow obstructions, narrowing of blood vessels, tumors, or birth defects, a doctor may use a Doppler ultrasound to examine and possibly diagnose the patient. This device follows blood flow through the arteries and veins in the neck, arms, legs, and abdomen. The three types of Doppler ultrasound are color Doppler, which uses color to show the speed and direction of flow in blood vessels; power Doppler, which works similar to color Doppler, but with more detail; and spectral Doppler, which reformats blood flow measurements into graphs.
A patient receiving an ultrasound should not expect pain or discomfort unless the transducer is placed over a painful area. Depending on the exact nature and reasons for the procedure, a healthcare professional may ask the patient not to eat or drink for a period of time, to drink plenty of water, or not to modify daily activities at all. The clinician or technician will likely position the patient face up and apply a clear gel that produces a warming effect to the site where the transducer will be placed. The gel is applied to minimize the possibility of air pockets between the skin and the transducer so that sound waves can be measured as accurately as possible. After the procedure, the skin will be cleansed, no discomfort should be experienced, and the patient can resume their normal activities.
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