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What is sonography? |
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Sonography, or ultrasound, is a diagnostic procedure that transmits high-frequency sound waves, inaudible to the human ear, through body tissues. The echoes are recorded and transformed into video or photographic images of the internal structures of the body.
Ultrasound images help in the diagnosis of a wide range of diseases and conditions. The idea for ultrasonography came from sonar technology, which makes use of sound waves to detect underwater objects.
Ultrasound is used to create images of soft tissue structures, such as the gall bladder, liver, heart, kidney, female reproductive organs -- and even of fetuses still in the womb. Ultrasound can also detect blockages in the blood vessels. Ultrasound may be used with other diagnostic procedures or by itself.
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What are the benefits vs. risks? |
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Benefits |
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Most ultrasound scanning is noninvasive (no needles or injections) and is usually painless.
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Ultrasound is widely available, easy-to-use and less expensive than other imaging methods. |
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Ultrasound imaging does not use any ionizing radiation. |
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Ultrasound scanning gives a clear picture of soft tissues that do not show up well on x-ray images. |
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Ultrasound is the preferred imaging modality for the diagnosis and monitoring of pregnant women and their unborn |
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babies. |
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Ultrasound has been used to evaluate pregnancy for nearly four decades and there has been no evidence of harm to |
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the patient, embryo or fetus. Nevertheless, ultrasound should be performed only when medically indicated. |
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Ultrasound allows the doctor to see inside the uterus and provides much information about the pregnancy. |
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Risks |
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Studies have shown that ultrasound is not hazardous. There are no harmful side effects. In addition, ultrasound does |
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not use radiation, as x-ray tests do. |
