Ultrasounds
Ultrasound is a noninvasive imaging test; it is also called sonography or ultrasonography. The picture that comes out of an ultrasound is called as a sonogram. To create real-time pictures or videos of internal organs or soft tissues like blood vessels, ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves.
It allows the healthcare professionals to view the intricate details of soft tissues inside the body without having to make any cuts. Eventhough ultrasounds are mostly related to pregnancy, it is used in several other occasions to have a look at different body parts. Ultrasound doesn’t use radiation like x-rays.
There are three major divisions of ultrasound imaging:
- Diagnostic Ultrasound
- Ultrasound Guidance for procedures
- Pregnancy Ultrasound
How an ultrasound works?
A sonographer is a person that performs the ultrasound, the image is further studied and interpreted by other specialists like cardiologists, radiologists and many others.
A hand-held device like a joystick is placed on the skin of the patient by the sonographer, this creates an ultrasound, a sound that passes through the soft tissue and fluids. This sound then echoes off or bounces back, off denser surfaces. This is how an ultrasound image is created.
The ultrasound is a frequency which human ears cannot hear, it is usually between 2 and 18 megahertz. Even though higher frequencies provide better quality images, they are more readily absorbed by the skin and other tissues than the lower frequencies, so they cannot penetrate deeply. Even if image quality is inferior lower frequencies penetrate deeper.
More ultrasound bounces back as the denser the object it hits. The varying densities are reflected by the different shades of grey. For example, during the ultrasound of a heart, if the ultrasound hits a heart valve, it echoes back.
The transducer or wand is generally placed on the skin, but some are also placed internally to provide clearer images. Like an endorectal transducer is used for the rectum, the transesophageal transducer is used for the oesophagus so it is passed down the throat, an endovaginal transducer is used for the vagina, and some very minuet transducers can be inserted into the blood vessels to examine the walls, this is done by attaching them to a catheter.
Purpose of ultrasounds
Ultrasounds are commonly known for pregnancies. But it has many other uses as well. The doctor may need an ultrasound scan if there is swelling, pain, or symptoms that require an internal view of the organs. Ultrasound can offer an internal view of:
- Eyes
- Uterus
- Gallbladder
- Kidneys
- Liver
- Bladder
- Ovaries
- Pancreas
- Brain (in infants)
- Spleen
- Thyroid
- Blood vessels
- Testicles
It also provides guidance for surgeons in certain procedures.
Ultrasound Procedure
The preparation for an ultrasound depends on the ultrasound an individual needs, some of them do not need preparation at all.
For the ultrasound of pelvis, like an ultrasound during pregnancy, the person would need to fill their bladder with water before the ultrasound is taken.
For the ultrasound of the abdomen, one would need to fast or diet for several hours before the test is taken. The healthcare provider usually instructs individuals on what needs to be done before the procedure.
Sometimes depending on the the area that needs to be scanned, healthcare providers might ask individuals to change into hospital gown or remover certain clothing.
The common type of ultrasound, where the transducer is used on the skin, usually follows these steps:
- On a table or bed, the person will be asked to lie on their back or side, depending on the area that needs to be scanned.
- The ultrasound technician will apply a water-soluble gel on the area that needs to be scanned.
- Then, the technician moves the transducer using their hands over the gel to get the images.
- The individual might be asked to hold their breath or stay still for a few seconds to get a clearer image.
- Once they have enough images, the person can wipe off the gel and be done.
The procedure usually takes 30 minutes to an hour.
Results of Ultrasounds
The time it takes for the results of the ultrasound to be determined depends on the diagnosis. Sometimes, it is provided right then, and sometimes, the doctors might need to study the scan further and send it to the individuals.
Ultrasound can detect a wide range of abnormalities, like:
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Varicocele
- Gallstones
- Aortic aneurysm
- Cholecystitis
- Abnormal growths, like tumours or cancer
- Blood clots
- Kidney or bladder stones
- Enlarged spleen
Conclusion
Ultrasound is an affordable and safe option for doctors to determine a diagnosis when it comes to organs and soft tissue in the body. It uses sound waves to form an image inside the body. A sonogram is an image produced by an ultrasound.
