Ultrasound Definition

Ultrasound is also referred to as ultrasound, sonography, Doppler ultrasound, and 3-D ultrasound. This is machine used by ultrasound technicians (also called sonographers) in order to take pictures of the inside of the body.  A transducer produces high frequency soundwaves in real-time and shows the bodies internal organs as well as blood vessels.  In contrast to x ray, PET scans, CT scans, (but not MRI), ultrasound uses no radiation and has little to no side effects.

Ultrasound Types

There many types of ultrasound.  Please see our all-inclusive page of ultrasound types!  These include color Doppler, power Doppler, and spectral Doppler. Diagnostic ultrasound is used for visualizing many parts of the body.  Different ultrasound techniques exist for different conditions. Examples of some of the more common types of ultrasound examinations include the following:

• Doppler ultrasound - used to see structures inside the body, while evaluating blood flow at the same time. Doppler ultrasound can determine if there are any problems within the veins and arteries.
• vascular ultrasound - used to see the vascular system and its function, including detection of blood clots.
• echocardiogram - used to see the heart and its valves, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the heart's pumping ability.
• abdominal ultrasound - used to detect any abnormalities of the abdominal organs (i.e., kidneys, liver, pancreas, gallbladder), such as gallstones or tumors.
• renal ultrasound - used to examine the kidneys and urinary tract.
• obstetrical ultrasound - used to monitor the development of the fetus.
• pelvic ultrasound - used to find the cause of pelvic pain, such as an ectopic pregnancy in women, or to detect tumors or masses.
• breast ultrasound - used to examine a mass in the breast tissue.
• thyroid ultrasound - used to see the thyroid and to detect any abnormalities.
• scrotal ultrasound - used to further investigate pain in the testicles.
• prostate ultrasound - used to examine any nodules felt during a physical examination.
• musculoskeletal ultrasound - used to examine any joint or muscle pain for conditions, such as a tear.
• interventional ultrasound - used to help the surgeon during a minimally invasive operation or biopsy.
• intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) - used to provide direct visualization and measurement of the inside of blood vessels.
• endoscopic ultrasound - used to obtain direct ultrasound examination of the inside of a body cavity or organ, using an ultrasound transducer inside an endoscope (a small, flexible tube with a light and a lens on the end).

Ultrasound Uses

Ultrasound is a useful way of examining many of the body's internal organs, including but not limited to the:

• heart and blood vessels, including the abdominal aorta and its major branches
• liver
• gallbladder
• spleen
• pancreas
• kidneys
• bladder
• uterus, ovaries, and unborn child (fetus) in pregnant patients
• eyes
• thyroid and parathyroid glands
• scrotum (testicles)

Ultrasound is also used to:

• guide procedures such as needle biopsies, in which needles are used to extract sample cells from an abnormal area for laboratory testing.
• image the breasts and to guide biopsy of breast cancer (see the Ultrasound-Guided Breast Biopsy page).
• diagnose a variety of heart conditions and to assess damage after a heart attack or diagnose for valvular heart disease.

Doppler ultrasound images can help the physician to see and evaluate:

• blockages to blood flow (such as clots).
• narrowing of vessels (which may be caused by plaque).
• tumors and congenital malformation.

With knowledge about the speed and volume of blood flow gained from a Doppler ultrasound image, the physician can often determine whether a patient is a good candidate for a procedure like angioplasty.

General Ultrasound Links:

Professional Ultrasound Associations/Organizations:

Ultrasound Accreditation and Credentialing Resources:

• American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS)
  www.ardms.org
  51 Monroe Street 
  Plaza East One
  Rockville, Maryland  20850-2400 
  Telephone 1.301.738.8401
  Fax 1.301.738.0312
• American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) 
  www.arrt.org
  1255 Northland Drive
  St. Paul, Minnesota  55120-1155
  Telephone 1.651.687.0048
• Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI)
  www.cci-online.org
  1500 Sunday Drive, Suite 102
  Raleigh, NC  27607
  Telephone 1.900.326.0268  or 919.861.4539  
  Fax  919.787.4916
• Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL):  www.icael.org

Ultrasound Education Links:

• American College of Radiology Programs (ACR) www.acr.org
• Association of Educators in Radiologic Sciences (AERS) www.aers.org
• Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) www.accme.org
• Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) www.abhes.org
• Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) www.caahep.org
• Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.  (ECE) www.ece.org
• Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography  (JRCERT) www.jrcdms.org

Organizations 

• American College of Cardiology (ACC) www.acc.org
• American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) www.chestnet.org
• American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) www.aium.org
• American Medical Association (AMA) www.ama-assn.org
• American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) www.asecho.org
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services www.os.dhhs.gov 
  
  

Articles and Publications 

• iCardio Services Adds HeartSmartIMTplus(TM) Risk Screening to Menu Reuters

Schedule your Ultrasound today! 

If you are looking for radiology services at your imaging site/center, call us at 1-800-626-8315 or contact us via our CONTACT FORM.

If you are looking to schedule a radiology examination, los angeles ultrasound, or radiology services in los angeles, CLICK HERE.

If you are in search of other things, we're surprisingly resourceful!  Call us at 1-800-626-8315 or contact us via our CONTACT FORM.

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