Ultrasound

Overview

Ultrasound is a noninvasive imaging test that shows structures inside your body using high-intensity sound waves. Healthcare providers use ultrasound exams for several purposes, including during pregnancy, for diagnosing conditions and for image guidance during certain procedures.

What is an Ultrasound?

An ultrasound is an imaging test that uses sound waves to create real-time pictures or video of soft tissues inside your body.
Ultrasound (also called sonography or ultrasonography) is a noninvasive imaging test. An ultrasound picture is called a sonogram. Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create real-time pictures or video of internal organs or other soft tissues, such as blood vessels.

Ultrasound enables healthcare providers to “see” details of soft tissues inside your body without making any incisions (cuts). And unlike X-rays, ultrasound doesn’t use radiation.

Many people who hear the term "ultrasound" likely picture a pregnant woman in their doctor's office getting a sneak peek of the baby growing inside her womb — perhaps even a gender reveal. But while fetal imaging is one of the most common uses of ultrasounds, this diagnostic tool actually has many applications.

Ultrasound vs. X-ray

Ultrasound and X-ray are both imaging tests. X-rays create pictures of the inside of your body using a small amount of radiation. Most of us are familiar with X-ray imaging of our bones or teeth, but X-ray images can diagnose a range of conditions and injuries. They are used to examine bones and soft tissue. An ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create these images.

Ultrasound vs. sonogram

Ultrasound is the test used for imaging. Sonogram is the image an ultrasound produces.

How does an ultrasound work?

During an ultrasound, a healthcare provider passes a device called a transducer or probe over an area of your body or inside a body opening. The provider applies a thin layer of gel to your skin so that the ultrasound waves are transmitted from the transducer through the gel and into your body.

The probe converts electrical current into high-frequency sound waves and sends the waves into your body’s tissue. You can’t hear the sound waves.

Sound waves bounce off structures inside your body and back to the probe, which converts the waves into electrical signals. A computer then converts the pattern of electrical signals into real-time images or videos, which are displayed on a computer screen nearby.

What are the different kinds of ultrasounds?

There are three main categories of ultrasound imaging, including:

Pregnancy ultrasound (prenatal ultrasound).

Diagnostic ultrasound.

Ultrasound guidance for procedures.

Pregnancy ultrasound

Healthcare providers often use ultrasound (often called prenatal or obstetric ultrasound) to monitor you and the fetus during pregnancy.

Providers use prenatal ultrasound to:

Confirm that you’re pregnant.

Check to see if you’re pregnant with more than one fetus.

Estimate how long you’ve been pregnant and the gestational age of the fetus.

Check the fetal growth and position.

Determine the fetus's biological sex

See the fetal movement and heart rate.

Check for congenital conditions (birth defects) in the fetal brain, spinal cord, heart or other parts of its body.

Check the amount of amniotic fluid.

Most healthcare providers recommend an ultrasound at 20 weeks pregnant. This test tracks the fetus’s growth and development during pregnancy. This ultrasound may also show the biological sex of the fetus. Tell your technician if you do or do not want to know the sex.

Your provider may order extra scans to get answers to any questions or concerns, such as the potential for congenital conditions.

Diagnostic ultrasound

Providers use diagnostic ultrasounds to view internal parts of your body to see if something is wrong or not working properly. They can help your provider learn more about what’s causing a wide range of symptoms, such as unexplained pain, masses (lumps) or what may be causing an abnormal blood test.

For most diagnostic ultrasound exams, the technician places the transducer (probe) on your skin. In some cases, they may need to place the probe inside your body, such as in your vagina or rectum.

The type of diagnostic ultrasound you have depends on the details of your case.

Examples of diagnostic ultrasounds include:

Abdominal ultrasound: An ultrasound probe moves across the skin of your midsection (belly) area. Abdominal ultrasound can diagnose many causes of abdominal pain.

Kidney (renal) ultrasound: Providers use kidney ultrasound to assess the size, location and shape of your kidneys and related structures, such as your ureters and bladder. Ultrasound can detect cysts, tumors, obstructions or infections within or around your kidneys.

Breast ultrasound: A breast ultrasound is a noninvasive test to identify breast lumps and cysts. Your provider may recommend an ultrasound after an abnormal mammogram.

Transesophageal echocardiogram, which probes the esophagus so that the sonographer can obtain clearer images of the heart.

Doppler ultrasound: This is a special ultrasound technique that assesses the movement of materials, like blood, in your body. It allows your provider to see and evaluate blood flow through arteries and veins in your body. Doppler ultrasound is often used as part of a diagnostic ultrasound study or as part of a vascular ultrasound.

Pelvic ultrasound: A pelvic ultrasound looks at the organs in your pelvic area between your lower abdomen (belly) and legs. Some of the pelvic organs include your bladder, prostate, rectum, ovaries, uterus and vagina.

Transvaginal ultrasound: Your provider inserts a probe into your vaginal canal. It shows reproductive tissues such as your uterus or ovaries. A transvaginal ultrasound is sometimes called a pelvic ultrasound because it evaluates structures inside your pelvis (hip bones).

Thyroid ultrasound: Providers use ultrasound to assess your thyroid, a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland in your neck. Providers can measure the size of your thyroid and see if there are nodules or lesions within the gland.

Transrectal ultrasound: Your provider inserts an ultrasound probe transducer into your rectum. It evaluates your rectum or other nearby tissues, such as the prostate in males.

Ultrasound guidance for procedures

Providers sometimes use ultrasound to perform certain procedures precisely.

A common use of ultrasound is to guide needle placement to sample fluid or tissue from:

Tendons.

Joints.

Muscles.

Cysts or fluid collections.

Soft-tissue masses.

Organs (liver, kidney or prostate).

Transplant organs (liver, kidney or pancreas).

Examples of other procedures that may require ultrasound guidance include:

Embryo transfer for in vitro fertilization.

Nerve blocks.

Confirming the placement of an IUD (intrauterine device) after insertion.

Lesion localization procedures.

Therapeutic ultrasound

A low-frequency ultrasound has been used to treat various conditions since the 1950s. Among the FDA-approved uses of a therapeutic ultrasound are:

Cancer

Uterine fibroids

Glaucoma

Kidney stones

Plantar fasciitis

Liposuction

Bone fractures

There can be some significant side effects of using an ultrasound for treatment, so your health care professional will carefully weigh the benefits and drawbacks before using this manner of treatment.

Other uses of an ultrasound

Additionally, ultrasound technology has advanced to allow for other types of imaging:

Doppler is a special type of ultrasound that creates images of blood flow through vessels.

Bone sonography helps doctors diagnose osteoporosis.

Echocardiograms are used to view the heart.

Three-dimensional imaging adds another dimension to the ultrasound image, creating three-dimensional interpretations rather than the flat two-dimensional images that are made with the traditional ultrasound.

Four-dimensional ultrasounds show three-dimensional images in motion.

2D vs 3D vs 4D ultrasound?

For ultrasounds during pregnancy, the traditional ultrasound is a two-dimensional (2D) image of the fetus. 2D ultrasound produces outlines and flat-looking images, which allows your healthcare provider to see the fetus's internal organs and structures.

Three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound allows the visualization of some facial features of the fetus and possibly other body parts such as fingers and toes. Four-dimensional (4D) ultrasound is 3D ultrasound in motion. Providers rarely use 3D or 4D fetal ultrasound imaging for medical purposes, though it can be useful in diagnosing a facial or skeletal issue. They do, however, use 3D ultrasound for other medical purposes, such as evaluating uterine polyps and fibroids.

While ultrasound is generally considered to be safe with very low risks, the risks may increase with unnecessary prolonged exposure to ultrasound energy or when untrained users operate an ultrasound machine. Because of this, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises against getting a 3D ultrasound for non-medical reasons such as for “keepsake” moments or entertainment.

Benefits of an Ultrasound

Ultrasounds offer many advantages:

They are generally painless and do not require needles, injections, or incisions.

Patients aren't exposed to ionizing radiation, making the procedure safer than diagnostic techniques such as X-rays and CT scans. In fact, there are no known harmful effects when used as directed by your health care professional.

Ultrasounds capture images of soft tissues that don't show up well on X-rays.

Ultrasounds are widely accessible and less expensive than other methods.

Who performs an ultrasound?

A doctor or a healthcare provider called an ultrasound technician or sonographer performs ultrasounds. They’re specially trained to operate an ultrasound machine properly and safely.

It’s important to always have your ultrasound performed by a medical professional and in a medical facility.

How do I prepare for an ultrasound?

The preparations will depend on the type of ultrasound you’re having. Some types of ultrasounds require no preparation at all.

For ultrasounds of the pelvis, including ultrasounds during pregnancy, of the female reproductive system and of the urinary system, you may need to fill up your bladder by drinking water before the test.

For ultrasounds of the abdomen, you may need to adjust your diet or fast (not eat or drink anything except water) for several hours before your test.

In any case, your healthcare provider will let you know if you need to do anything special to prepare for your ultrasound. They may give you instructions during an appointment or when scheduling your ultrasound. Instructions may also be available in your electronic medical records if you use such a system.

What happens during an ultrasound?

Preparation for an ultrasound varies depending on what body part you’ll have scanned. Your provider may ask you to remove certain pieces of clothes or change into a hospital gown.

Ultrasounds that involve applying the transducer (probe) over your skin (not in your body), follow these general steps:

You’ll lie on your side or back on a comfortable table.

The ultrasound technician will apply a small amount of water-soluble gel on your skin over the area to be examined. This gel doesn’t harm your skin or stain your clothes.

The technician will move a handheld transducer or probe over the gel to get images inside your body.

The technician may ask you to be very still or to hold your breath for a few seconds to create clearer pictures.

Once the technician has gotten enough images, they’ll wipe off any remaining gel on your skin and you’ll be done.

An ultrasound test usually takes 30 minutes to an hour. If you have any questions about your specific type of ultrasound, ask your healthcare provider.

Is an ultrasound painful?

Ultrasounds that are performed externally (over your skin) are generally not painful. You won’t feel the sound waves that ultrasound uses. If you have to have a full bladder for the procedure, it may be uncomfortable. It may also be uncomfortable to lay on the exam table if you’re pregnant.

Ultrasounds that go inside body cavities, such as your vagina or rectum, may be uncomfortable, but they shouldn’t hurt.

Are ultrasounds safe?

Yes, research to date has largely shown ultrasound technology to be safe with no harmful side effects. Ultrasound doesn’t use radiation, unlike some other medical imaging tests, such as X-rays and CT scans.

Still, all ultrasounds should be done by a professional who has training in using this specialized technology safely.

Results

When should I know the results of my ultrasound?

The time it takes to get your results depends on the type of ultrasound you get. In some cases, such as prenatal ultrasound, your provider may analyze the images and provide results during the test.

In other cases, a radiologist, a healthcare provider trained to supervise and interpret radiology exams, will analyze the images and then send the report to the provider who requested the exam. Your provider will then share the results with you or they may be available in your electronic medical record (if you have an account set up) before your provider reviews the results.

What conditions can be detected by ultrasound?

Ultrasound can help providers diagnose a wide range of medical issues, including:

Abnormal growths, such as tumors or cancer.

Blood clots.

Enlarged spleen.

Ectopic pregnancy (when a fertilized egg implants outside of your uterus).

Gallstones.

Aortic aneurysm.

Kidney or bladder stones.

Cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation).

Varicocele (enlarged veins in the testicles).

What questions should I ask my healthcare provider?

If you need an ultrasound, you may want to ask your provider the following questions:

What type of ultrasound do I need?

What should I do to prepare for my ultrasound?

Do I need any other tests?

When should I expect to get test results?

How Much Does an Ultrasound Cost?

The cost of your ultrasound depends on where you live and the type of scan you get. Generally, a pregnancy ultrasound can cost as little as $200 up to $1,000 or more. Most insurance companies cover the cost of prenatal ultrasounds, and you should check with your insurer for out-of-pocket costs for other types of ultrasounds.

One Final Note..

An ultrasound is a test that takes images inside your body. The test uses high-frequency sound waves to create pictures in real time of organs and soft tissue. Not just a tool during pregnancy, an ultrasound can be used to examine your kidneys, breasts, vascular system, thyroid gland, and pelvic organs.

Ultrasounds are common, safe and effective imaging tests. Make sure you get an ultrasound from a well-trained professional (sonographer) who understands how to use this technology properly. If you have any questions about your specific ultrasound test, talk to your healthcare provider. They’re available to help.

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