Ultrasound Imaging
Ultrasound uses sound waves to create real-time images. Commonly used for pregnancy monitoring and examining organs like the heart, liver, and kidneys.
What is Ultrasound?
Ultrasound imaging, also called sonography, uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of structures inside your body. It is completely non-invasive, safe, and does not use ionizing radiation, making it ideal for monitoring pregnancy and examining organs.
How it works: A small handheld device called a transducer is pressed against your skin after applying gel. The transducer sends sound waves into your body and picks up the echoes that bounce back. These echoes are processed to create real-time moving images on a monitor.
Common Uses of Ultrasound
Pregnancy and fetal development
Monitor baby's growth, check fetal heartbeat, and estimate due date
Abdominal organ examination
Evaluate liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys, and spleen
Cardiac assessment (Echocardiography)
Examine heart structure, valve function, and blood flow
Vascular imaging (Doppler ultrasound)
Assess blood flow in arteries and veins, detect clots
Musculoskeletal evaluation
Examine tendons, muscles, ligaments, and joints
Pelvic and gynecologic assessment
Characterize ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, and adnexal masses
Vascular thrombosis screening
Detect lower-extremity DVT with compression ultrasound
Breast imaging
Distinguish between fluid-filled cysts and solid masses
Advantages
- ✓Real-time imaging allows visualization of movement and blood flow
- ✓No radiation exposure - completely safe for pregnant women
- ✓Non-invasive and painless
- ✓Portable and can be performed at bedside
- ✓Relatively inexpensive compared to CT or MRI
- ✓No special preparation usually required
Limitations
- ⚠Image quality depends on operator skill and patient body habitus
- ⚠Limited penetration through bone and air
- ⚠May not provide as much detail as CT or MRI for some conditions
- ⚠Difficult to image obese patients
- ⚠Cannot image through gas or air pockets
Preparation Checklist
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⚖️Ultrasound vs CT
| Criteria | Ultrasound | CT |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Moderate | Fast |
| Radiation | Yes | Yes |
| Soft Tissue Detail | Limited | Good |
| Cost | Low | Medium |
Related Imaging Modalities
For more detailed imaging, CT or MRI may be recommended. Doppler ultrasound can assess blood flow. 3D/4D ultrasound provides enhanced visualization during pregnancy.
CT
CT scans use X-rays to create detailed cross-sectional images of the body. They are particularly useful for detecting bone fractures, tumors, and internal bleeding.
MRI
MRI uses powerful magnets and radio waves to produce detailed images of organs and soft tissues. Excellent for brain, spine, and joint imaging.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about this imaging modality.
Browse Ultrasound Terms
Explore common terms in Ultrasound reports, each with detailed explanations, clinical significance, and related lab tests to help you understand your imaging results. lab tests.
Lower Extremity DVT
Non-compressible vein with intraluminal echogenic thrombus; absent or reduced Doppler flow.
Fatty Liver (Steatosis) on Ultrasound
Increased liver echogenicity (brighter than kidney cortex), attenuation of ultrasound beam (poor visualization of diaphragm), vascular blurring
Gallbladder Polyp on Ultrasound
Non-shadowing echogenic focus attached to gallbladder wall that does not move with position change. Size is the most important feature.
Gallstones (Cholelithiasis)
Echogenic foci with posterior acoustic shadowing in gallbladder
Hydronephrosis
Dilated renal collecting system with anechoic calyces; cortical thinning in chronic cases.
Hepatic Cyst (Liver Cyst)
Round, anechoic (black) fluid-filled structure with thin walls and posterior acoustic enhancement
Simple Ovarian Cyst on Ultrasound
Anechoic, thin-walled, round or oval cyst without septations or solid components; posterior acoustic enhancement present
Thyroid Nodule
Discrete lesion within thyroid gland, may be solid, cystic, or mixed
Uterine Fibroid (Leiomyoma)
Well-circumscribed hypoechoic mass with shadowing; may be submucosal, intramural, or subserosal.
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