Medical Ultrasonography: How Does It Work and Why You Might Need It?

Medical ultrasound is a popular, efficient, and inexpensive diagnostic exam that people of all ages can safely perform. In this article, you will learn the basic principle and specifics of the procedure.

Medical ultrasound was invented in the 1950s and has been one of the most popular and reliable diagnostic tools ever since. It uses high frequency sound waves to capture pictures of what is going on in the body.

In this article, you will learn more about the essence of ultrasound technology: its main uses and the level of safety. You will learn how to prepare for the procedure and what is the difference between the two types of scans.

The essence of technology

The word "ultrasound" describes the sound of such a frequency that humans cannot hear. For diagnostic purposes, doctors work with ultrasound, the frequency of which is in the range from 2 to 18 MHz. Waves with a frequency of 1.9 MHz and lower can penetrate deeper into the tissue – but do not provide high quality images. Waves with frequencies of 18.1 MHz and higher can provide very detailed images – but they cannot penetrate deep enough.

The cost of ultrasound is affordable for most patients, and you can have an examination like this in almost any hospital. The medical experts who perform ultrasound exams are known as sonographers.

You could interpret the picture yourself or pass it on to cardiologists or other doctors. The handheld device that the sonograph uses is called a transducer. It resembles a magic wand and is placed on the patient's skin. A sonogram is the name of the picture you will get as a result of the test.

To capture this image, ultrasound waves travel through soft tissues and fluids. As soon as they hit denser objects, they rebound or bounce back. The denser the surface, the more intense the echo. Different densities correspond to different shades of gray in the sonogram.

Let's consider one such example: the patient undergoes an ultrasound of the gallbladder. If there are stones, the waves echo – and if there aren't, the ultrasound travels freely through the gallbladder.

Used

Medical professionals rely on ultrasound to do the following:

• Diagnose disease
• Monitor the development of the fetus
• Identify whether a lump is a tumor
• Assistance in performing certain types of biopsies
• Insert a needle with anesthetic solution near nerves

This technology detects abnormalities in the liver, heart, kidney, abdomen, pancreas, thyroid, testes, ovaries and some other parts of the human body.

In addition, it allows doctors to examine frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as problems with soft tissues, muscles, blood vessels, tendons and joints.

preparation

Usually, patients don't need to prepare for an ultrasound scan – but they may want to wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing. People with gallbladder or liver problems may not need to eat or fast for a few hours before the procedure.

Pregnant women should drink plenty of water, especially in the first trimester, and refrain from urinating for some time before the examination. This method gives a clearer picture of the uterus when the bladder is full.

The person comes to the radiology department of the hospital, the ambulance or the doctor's office. The procedure can take from approx. 20 minutes to a maximum of an hour.

External and internal ultrasound

The external ultrasound examination is painless and there are no unpleasant noises. Only pregnant women can experience slight discomfort due to the full bladder.

The doctor applies a lubricant to the patient's stomach or other part of the body and moves a transducer over the skin.

The pressure is very gentle. During the examination, the patient lies quietly on a bed. The sonographer can ask you to turn around, inhale or exhale.

The internal procedure is less comfortable than its external counterpart and can even cause internal bleeding. To relieve pain, the patient may take medication before the exam.

The doctor inserts an endoscope into the patient's esophagus (usually through the mouth) to examine the digestive system or breast lymph nodes. Or the doctor can place the transducer in a woman's vagina or a man's rectum to assess the urinary system and internal reproductive organs.

safety

This is a safe and non-invasive method without any ionizing radiation. However, scientists cannot say for sure whether ultrasound may have long-term risks. Therefore, pregnant women should avoid this procedure unless clearly necessary.

People who are allergic to latex should also warn the sonographer not to use probes coated with latex.

Final thoughts

Hopefully this article has been useful and you now better understand the basics and benefits of medical ultrasound. It is a remarkably safe method that young children, the elderly, and pregnant women can use.

Ultrasound allows medical professionals to assess the condition of the soft tissues in the human body, perform a biopsy, detect tumors, and monitor the development of the fetus.

Almost every hospital has ultrasound machines, the price of which should be very affordable.

About the author:

My name is Lilian Davis. I do promotions for a digital health marketplace tripment.com.