Ultrasound - Indications, Types, and Method

Introduction

It is an imaging method that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of structures within the body. The images can provide information for diagnosing and treating various diseases and conditions. Ultrasound is a painless procedure. However, mild discomfort is felt as the sonographer guides the transducer over the body. A typical ultrasound exam takes from 30 minutes to an hour.

What Are the Types of Ultrasound?

• Transesophageal Echocardiogram: A transducer inserted into your esophagus obtains heart images. It is usually done while you are sedated.

• Transrectal Ultrasound: This test creates prostate images by placing a special transducer into the rectum.

• Transvaginal Ultrasound: A transducer is inserted inside the vagina to quickly look at the uterus and ovaries.

Other names are sonogram, ultrasonography, pregnancy sonography, fetal ultrasound, obstetric ultrasound, diagnostic medical sonography, and diagnostic medical ultrasound.

What Are the Common Uses of Ultrasound Procedures?

Doctors use ultrasound to evaluate:

• Pain.

• Swelling.

• Infection.

Ultrasound helps in examining many of the body's internal organs. Some of them are;

• Heart, blood vessels, and the abdominal aorta.

• Liver.

• Gallbladder.

• Spleen.

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• Pancreas.

• Kidneys.

• Bladder.

• Uterus, ovaries, and also an unborn child in pregnant patients.

• Eyes.

• Thyroid and parathyroid glands.

• The scrotum.

• The brain of the infant.

What Is Ultrasound Used For?

An ultrasound can be used for various purposes, depending on the type of ultrasound.

A pregnancy ultrasound is done to check the health of an unborn baby. It is used to:

• Confirm pregnancy.

• Limiting the size and position of the unborn.

• Check to see if you are pregnant.

• Estimate how long you are pregnant.

• Checking the baby for any defects.

• Check for congenital disabilities in the brain, spinal cord, heart, or any part of the body.

• Check the amount of amniotic fluid.

• Amniotic fluid is a transparent liquid that surrounds the fetus. It protects the baby from the outside environment. It also helps in lung development and bone growth.

In women, diagnostic ultrasound may be used for:

• Look at a breast lump.

• Help to find the cause of pelvic pain.

• Help to find the cause of abnormal menstrual bleeding.

• Help to diagnose infertility.

• To check to monitor infertility treatments.

If you are pregnant, you would need an ultrasound. There is no radiation in the test. It is a safe way of checking the health of the fetus. You may need a diagnostic ultrasound if you have symptoms in specific organs and tissues. They include the heart, kidneys, thyroid, gallbladder, and female reproductive system. You may also need an ultrasound if you are getting a biopsy. The ultrasound helps your doctor to provide a clear image of the area that is being tested.

Ultrasound is also used to:

• Guide procedures like needle biopsies, in which needles remove the cells from an abnormal area for testing.

• Image of the breasts and guide biopsy of breast cancer.

• Diagnose various heart conditions, including valve problems and congestive heart failure, and assess the damage to the heart.

Doppler ultrasound helps the doctor to evaluate:

• Blocks blood flow (such as clots).

• Narrow the vessels.

• Tumors and congenital vascular abnormalities.

• Decreased or absent blood flow to various organs.

• Increased blood flow.

What Happens in Ultrasound?

An ultrasound usually includes the following:

• You will be lying on a table, exposing the area to be checked.

• A medical provider will spread a special gel on the skin over that area to be revealed.

• The provider will move a stick-like device, called a transducer, over the surface.

• The device gives sound waves to the body. These waves are high-pitched and cannot be heared.

• The waves get recorded and turned into images on the computer by a software.

• You will be able to view the photos during the scan. It mostly happens during a pregnancy ultrasound.

• The tests are about 30 to 60 minutes long.

The transducer is inserted inside the vagina during the early stage of pregnancy.

What Is the Preparation for the Ultrasound Scan?

The preparations depend on which type of ultrasound has been done. For ultrasounds of the abdominal area, you may need to fill up your bladder with water before the scan. Some types of ultrasounds require no preparation at all. Your physician will advise if you need anything to prepare for your ultrasound.

Are There Any Risks?

Ultrasound does not have any risk. They are radiation-free scan methods to check all the internal organs.

What Do the Results Mean?

If your pregnancy ultrasound results were as expected, it doesn't guarantee you'll have a healthy baby. No tests can predict that.

But expected results may mean:

• Your baby is growing at an average speed.

• You have a good amount of amniotic fluid.

• No congenital disabilities were found, though not all congenital disabilities will show up on an ultrasound.

If your pregnancy ultrasound results were not expected, it doesn't always mean your baby has severe health problems. If you had a diagnostic ultrasound, the meaning of your results would depend on which part of the body was being looked at.

Conclusion:

Ultrasound is a diagnostic method used to determine abnormality in the human body. This is especially important for pregnant women to check the unborn child's health status. Therefore making it a radiation-free scan procedure.

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