An ultrasound scan is an imaging technique that holds diagnostic importance. An ultrasound scan is capable of producing real-time images of the internal structures of the body. Ultrasound scans can be used to visualise and examine various parts of the body including the heart, uterus, urinary bladder, kidneys, stomach, etc. Most commonly. The scan is used as obstetric imaging or for visualisation and diagnosis of the presence of stones in the bladder, kidney, ureter. Or other body organs. When an ultrasound scan images stand insufficient in delivering adequate information on the intended purpose, other diagnostic modalities are opted for like MRI scan CT scan, PET scan, etc.
Ultrasound scans can be used for various purposes hence their different names namely-
- Duplex ultrasound
- Transvaginal ultrasound
- Color Doppler
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Echocardiogram
- Obstetric imaging
- Thyroid ultrasound
- Transrectal ultrasonography
- Renal ultrasonography
- Breast ultrasound/mammography
- Carotid and abdominal aorta ultrasound
- Scrotum ultrasound
- Ultrasound-guided biopsy procedures
- Triplex ultrasound
- 2D scans
- 3D scan
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Date estimating scan
- Fetal echocardiography
- Foetal Doppler
- Intravascular ultrasound
- Prostate ultrasound
- Transabdominal ultrasound
The ultrasound scan uses high-frequency ultrasound waves to produce scan images. These waves used for the scan are not harmful to you. Which makes the scan safe to be conducted during pregnancy. Other scans like CT scan use ionising radiations like X-rays to produce scan images. These radiations can be harmful in certain aspects although all the Ultrasound centres near you follow safety guidelines and protocols to pose minimal risks. Some risks that radiation can pose are damage to the DNA makeup, these changes can sometimes cause harm to a growing baby if conducted on pregnant women. Although, with ultrasound scans, these risks are not there. Ultrasound scans do not pose any risks at all, but it can be a little uncomfortable as the ultrasound wand is pushed against your stomach to collect scan images. A transducer wand is used, which is a wand that is used to collect sound waves reflected from your body.
For the ultrasound procedure.The body part that is to be examined will be placed with a gel, the gel helps create an air-free space between the skin and the transducer. The transducer wand is run over the gel-placed area which reflects the real-time internal organ images on the screen.
The ultrasound imaging technique has various uses including
- To check the growth and development of the baby during pregnancy
- To check the baby’s heart rate during pregnancy
- To detect the amount of amniotic fluid.
- It is also helpful in determining the gestational age
- It can help detect tumors of the breast with specialised ultrasound scans known as mammography
The overall diagnostic importance of the scan stands high.