| Ultrasound | |||||
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An ultrasound is a medical test using high frequency sound waves, which bounce back from the body structures, to get the images of various organs and tissues in the body. A computer receives these bounced waves and uses them to create a picture.
During the ultrasound test, a gel spread over the skin under which ar the organs that are being investigated. Then a wand-like instrument called a transducer is moved over the part(s) of the body that are being investigated. The transducer captures the waves that bounce back
There is no ionizing radiation exposure from an ultrasound (unlike with an e-ray).
There are various preparations required for the different types of ultrasound investigative tests (some require no preparation):
- Abdomen - nothing to eat or drink after midnight; this is used to investigate stomach, liver
- Head, neck and breast - no preparation is required
- Heart and blood vessels - no preparation is required
- Limited abdomen - fat-free dinner the night before and nothing to eat or drink after mid-night; this is used to investigate the gallbladder, common bile duct and pancreas
- Obstetric pelvic - you will be asked to come with a full bladder; used to perform a foetal examination
- Pelvic - you will be asked to come with a full bladder; this is used to investigate organs in the pelvic region, such as uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, kidneys
- Prostate - you will be given a fleet prep kit (18-hour prep); follow instructions included with kit
- Rectal - no preparation is required, a transducer probe is inserted into the rectum; used for colon and prostate
- Testes and scrotum - no preparation is required; used to investigate the testes and scrotum in males
- Thyroid and parathyroid glands - no preparation is required; thyroid and parathyroid glands are investigated
- Vaginal - no preparation is required; used to get a clearer images of the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes in females
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- An ultrasound is also known as a sonogram
- There are various preparations required for the different ultrasounds depending on the organ / tissue being investigated
- An ultrasound has no ionizing radiation exposure
- An ultrasound is a relatively painless medical test which helps doctors diagnose and treat a variety of medical conditions
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Why an ultrasound is important
An ultrasound is an excellent diagnostic tool and can produce good scans of various parts of the body, to assist with diagnosing illness (or providing an all-clear) as well as being a very safe way to check the progress of the unborn child in pregnant women.
An ultrasound, however does have limitations. It is not the best test to use for parts of the body that have gas or bone in them. These are better tested with x-rays (for bones) and MRI or CAT scan (for bones and gas).
references
- Marieb EM, Hoehn K. Human Anatomy & Physiology. 7th edition, 2006. Benjamin Cummings Publishing
- Tortora GJ, Derrickson BH. Principles of Anatomy & Physiology. 11th edition, 2005. Wiley Publishing
To learn more, go to the following web sites:
- The Royal Women's Hospital, Victoria (Australia)
