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Evaluation, Diagnosis, and treatment of some medical conditions have undergone some serious changes. This transformation is largely due to the advent of ultrasound.
Ultrasound facilitated an in-depth examination of lesions, masses, tissues, and organs. Furthermore, ultrasounds are widely used as a medical imaging technique and an effective diagnostic tool. Read on to further unravel the common medical procedures that use ultrasound.
Ultrasound Explained
Ultrasound visualizes muscles, tendons, and internal organs. In addition, it also detects abnormalities in their structure or operation. Lastly, this is done using high-frequency sound waves.
Furthermore, ultrasound can detect certain diseases, conditions, injuries, and cancerous lumps, making it a valuable tool for diagnosis. Ultrasounds are quick, safe, and, in most cases, non-invasive.
A transducer is outfitted with a thin layer of gel and placed on or within the body. Waves are
transmitted through the gel and reflected back to the transducer during the procedure.
The reflected waves hit the transducer and generate electrical signals that are transferred to the scanner. The scanner generates a two-dimensional image of tissues and organs using these signals.
Uses Of Ultrasound
Ultrasound is a diagnostic tool commonly used for evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of various medical conditions. They are put to use in many procedures including the following.
Abdominal Ultrasound
Abdominal ultrasounds visualize a patient’s abdominal organs, including the liver, gallbladder,
spleen, pancreas and kidneys. It can also be used to examine connected blood vessels such as the inferior vena cava and aorta.
These ultrasounds help professionals to figure out the cause of stomach pain or bloating and check for kidney stones, liver disease and tumours.
Bone Sonometry
Bone sonometry is used to determine the fragility levels of a bone. It gives information regarding the strength, structure and elasticity of the bone. It also detects conditions such as osteopenia and osteoporosis.
With these conditions, bone has few minerals, poor density, and an increased risk of fractures. Bone sonometry is commonly used to examine the heel, fingers, wrist, or tibia.
Breast Ultrasound
Breast ultrasounds generate pictures of the internal structures of the breasts. They identify
abnormalities like lumps that were discovered during a physical exam, mammogram or breast MRI.
This procedure determines whether the lump is non-cancerous or cancerous, fluid-filled or cystic. Ultrasounds make it easier to detect lesions on pregnant women, women with dense breast tissue, or individuals that are unable to undergo an MRI.
Doppler Ultrasound
Doppler ultrasounds are used to detect abnormal blood flow through the arteries and veins. They can diagnose conditions such as blood clots, poor circulation, blockages, and narrowing of the blood vessels. The detection and prevention of blocked and reduced blood flow are critical for preventing a stroke.
Echocardiogram
Echocardiograms are used to monitor the movement of the heart’s valves and chambers. They assess the overall function of your heart and detect conditions such as valve disease, myocardial disease, pericardial disease, cardiac masses, and congenital heart disease. They can also track the progress of a patient’s disease and evaluate the effectiveness of their medical or surgical treatments over time.
The use of ultrasound for therapeutic purposes is highly debated. More research is necessary to cast away the doubts regarding its effectiveness. Nevertheless, one can make a lucrative career out of it by pursuing a comprehensive ultrasound course.