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. Other names are sonogram, ultrasonography, pregnancy sonography, fetal ultrasound, obstetric ultrasound, diagnostic medical sonography, and diagnostic medical ultrasound. Ultrasound does not have any risk. They are radiation-free scan methods to check all the internal organs.

What Are the Types of Ultrasound?

• Transesophageal Echocardiogram: A transducer inserted into an individual's esophagus obtains heart images. It is usually done while an individual is 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 look at the uterus and ovaries quickly.

What Is The Difference Between Sonogram Vs Ultrasound?

The difference between a sonogram and an ultrasound is described below:

Ultrasound and sonogram are used in the different aspects of the same imaging medical technology. Ultrasound is the medical imaging procedure that forms pictures of the body's inner organs. A sonogram is a picture formed by an ultrasound imaging technique. During an ultrasound procedure, the sonogram is the picture or the visual output formed by an ultrasound examination. An ultrasound is the imaging procedure, while a sonogram is the visual representation of the procedure.

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.

• 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 the woman is pregnant.

• Estimate how long the woman is 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 a woman is pregnant, there is a need for an ultrasound. There is no radiation in the test. It is a safe way of checking the health of the fetus. Individuals may require diagnostic ultrasound if they have specific organ and tissue symptoms. They include the heart, kidneys, thyroid, gallbladder, and female reproductive system. They may also need an ultrasound if they are getting a biopsy. The ultrasound helps the doctor provide a clear image of the area 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.

Can Ultrasound Detect Cancer?

Yes, an ultrasound can detect cancer. The scenarios where an ultrasound is used to detect cancer are as follows:

• In the case of breast cancer, an ultrasound is used to distinguish between solid mass and liquid cysts.

• It is useful to examine the thyroid gland. It is used to find thyroid nodules.

• In liver cancer, it is used to examine the liver and diagnose liver tumors.

• In the case of ovarian cancer, a transvaginal ultrasound is done to detect abnormalities.

• In prostate cancer, a transrectal ultrasound is done to assess the prostate gland.

• In testicular cancer, the testicles are examined.

• In pancreatic cancer.

What Happens in Ultrasound?

The preparations depend on which type of ultrasound has been done. For ultrasounds of the abdominal area, the healthcare provider may need to fill the patient's bladder with water before the scan. Some types of ultrasounds require no preparation at all.

An ultrasound usually includes the following:

• The patient will lie 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 transducer is inserted inside the vagina during the early stage of pregnancy.

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

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

• The patient 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.

Can An Individual Eat Before An Ultrasound?

Yes, an individual can eat before an ultrasound. In most cases, the healthcare provider may advise the person to eat before an ultrasound. There is a need for fasting in specific medical procedures, such as the associated cases of the digestive system and surgical procedures. For abdominal ultrasound, an individual may eat before the procedure. In the case of liver and gallbladder ultrasound, the healthcare provider may advise the patient not to eat anything before the procedure.

What Do the Ultrasound Results Mean?

If the pregnancy ultrasound results were as expected, it doesn't guarantee they will have a healthy baby. No tests can predict that.

But expected results may mean:

• The baby is growing at an average speed.

• The pregnant woman may have a good amount of amniotic fluid.

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

If the pregnancy ultrasound results were not expected, it doesn't always mean that the baby has severe health problems. If they had a diagnostic ultrasound, the meaning of the 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. An ultrasound is used during pregnancy to detect various cancer types. The patient needs to follow instructions provided by the healthcare provider before the procedure.