Ultrasound

What is an ultrasound examination?

An ultrasound examination, also known as ultrasound (US) or sonography, is a diagnostic method applied for visualizing internal organs and tissues using high-frequency sound waves. This non-invasive technique allows doctors to look at the structure and function of different parts of the body in order to make a proper diagnosis or monitor the progression of a disease. Ultrasound examination is one of the most frequently performed examinations in modern medicine.

How is an ultrasound examination performed?

During an ultrasound examination, i.e., an ultrasound scan, the radiologist applies a gel to the patient’s skin in the area that needs to be imaged. The gel helps improve the conduction of sound waves between the ultrasound probe and the skin, resulting in a clear image. Then the ultrasound probe is gently moved over the patient’s skin in a particular area of the body.

When sound waves pass through the body, they are partly absorbed by different tissues and partly reflected. These sound reflections are detected by the probe and converted into an image that the doctor can analyze on the monitor in real time. Different structures of the body, organs, blood vessels, tumors, or cysts, have different characteristics when reflecting sound, which makes it possible to identify changes and assess their condition.

What are the indications for an ultrasound examination?

An ultrasound scan can be used to diagnose a variety of conditions and diseases, including the following:

• Ultrasoundin pregnancy: In practice, ultrasound is often used to monitor the growth and development of the fetus during pregnancy, as well as to diagnose possible complications and developmental anomalies, such as ectopic pregnancy or neural tube defects (NTDs).

• Abdominal ultrasound: Abdominal US is used for examining the internal organs of the abdomen, including the liver, bile ducts, spleen, kidneys, and pancreas. It can be very helpful in diagnosing problems such as gallstones, cysts, tumors, or inflammation.

• Ultrasonography of the heart (echocardiography): A type of ultrasound scanthat enables the assessment of the structure of the heart, the function of the cardiac chambers, as well as the movement of blood through the heart. This method is used to diagnose heart problems such as heart defects, heart failure, or pericarditis.

• Breast ultrasound: This examination is very frequently used to supplement mammography in detecting and characterizing breast lesions, such as cysts, tumors, or other abnormalities.

• Ultrasound of the musculoskeletalsystem: This type of US can be used to examine muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints to determine the presence of injuries, inflammation, or other problems.

Preparing for an ultrasound scan

Preparation for an ultrasound scan is simple and does not require too many special measures. Before the scan, it is necessarythat you inform the doctor who will be performing the US scan about the reason for the examination and the symptoms you are experiencing, in detail. Also, you need to bringyour complete medical records collected before the US scan to your appointment.

Before most US examinations, you can eat and drink normally, unless your doctor tells you otherwise. For some ultrasound examinations, however, such as abdominal scans, you may be given instructions about food restrictions. For a transabdominal US scan of the pelvic organs, the bladder needs to be full.

The advantages of an ultrasound scan

Ultrasound is widely accepted as a safe, fast, and non-invasive imaging technique that does not involve exposure to ionizing radiation, which makes it particularly suitable for all categories of patients, including pregnant women and children.