1) What is ultrasound?
Ultrasound is like ordinary
sound except it has a frequency (or pitch) higher than people can hear. Ultrasound is
sent into the body from a
scanning instrument (transducer) placed on a patient's
skin. The sound is reflected off
structures inside the body and
is analyzed by a computer to
make a picture of these structures on a monitor similar to a
television screen. The moving
pictures can be recorded on
film or videotape. Diagnostic
ultrasound is also called
"sonography."
2) Who performs
an ultrasound
examination?
In most clinical settings, a
diagnostic medical sonographer -- an allied health profes-
sional who has been trained
specifically to perform ultrasound examinations -- will perform the examination.
Following the completion of
the examination, the sonographer will review the images
and the patient's history with
a doctor trained in the interpretation of ultrasound.
Although a sonographer or a
technologist may play a critical
role in extracting the information essential to deriving a
diagnosis, the rendering of a
final diagnosis of ultrasound
studies represents the practice
of medicine, and, therefore, is
the responsibility of the supervising doctor.
3) Is ultrasound safe?
There are no known harmful
effects associated with the
diagnostic use of ultrasound.
Widespread clinical use of
diagnostic ultrasound for
many years has not revealed
any harmful effects. Although
the possibility exists that such
biological effects may be identified in the future, current
data indicate that the benefits
to patients of the prudent use
of diagnostic ultrasound outweigh the risks, if any, that
may be present. However, a
prudent and conservative
approach is recommended in
which diagnostic ultrasound is
to be used only for medical
benefit and with minimal
exposure.
4) What areas of the
body can be imaged
by ultrasound?
Ultrasound is a safe and non-invasive diagnostic tool that
can be used to examine many
parts of the body, most commonly soft tissue. It is used
extensively in the female pelvis
(both obstetrical and gynecological), the abdomen (kidneys,
liver and gallbladder), and for
cardiac diagnosis.
Another type of ultrasound, Doppler, is used in vascular diagnosis to assess blood flow. Other areas, such as the brain, eyes, thyroid, breast, prostate, and testicles, can be imaged by ultrasound as well. (It's also frequently used during your prenatal appointments to hear your baby's heartbeat.)
5) Why is ultrasound
used in pregnancy?
Ultrasound is widely known
for its use in first-, second-,
and third-trimester pregnancy.
The most common reason for
having an ultrasound examination during pregnancy is to
help the doctor determine
when your baby is due,
or to make sure the baby is
growing as it should. A doctor
may also request an ultrasound examination to determine the baby's position, to
see if you are carrying
twins or triplets, or to detect
a birth defect.
6) How should
ultrasound be used?
Ultrasound should be used in
a prudent manner, only to
provide medical benefit to the
patient. The AIUM strongly
discourages the nonmedical
use of ultrasound for psychosocial or entertainment
purposes. The use of ultrasound to only view the fetus,
obtain a picture of the fetus,
or determine the fetal gender
without a medical indication is
inappropriate and contrary to
responsible medical practice.
