The Many Uses of Ultrasound

Diagnostic ultrasound is a very safe, reliable and cheap way to observe various organs of the body. It is used in almost every field of medicine. The following fields use ultrasound the most frequently:

  • Obstetrics
  • Gynecology
  • Abdominal
  • Vascular System
  • Brain
  • Prostate
  • Breasts
  • Musculoskeletal (MCS)
  • Eyes

    • Fig. 22: Dancing Baby
    Obstetrics     - Ultrasound is most often used in this field of medicine to do with babies. Sonographers, look at the following organs and parts of the unborn baby (fetus):

  • Heart Beat
  • Brain Anatomy
  • Spine
  • Heart
  • Kidneys
  • Bladder
  • Stomach
  • Limbs
  • Placenta Location
  • Fetal Verification
  • Number of Babies
  • Amount of Amniotic Fluid
  • Size of  Baby
  • Deformities
  • Umbilical Cord
  • Location of Baby in Uterus
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    Gynecology - Ultrasound looks at female reproductive organs to see if there are any problems, tumors, or deformities in the following areas:

  • Ovaries
  • Uterus
  • Ovarian Cysts
  • Ovarian Tumors
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    Abdominal - Ultrasound technicians look for deformities or problems in the following areas:

  • Aorta
  • Liver
  • Gall Bladder
  • Kidneys
  • Pancreas
  • Spleen
  • Kidney Stones
  • Gall Stones
  • Tumors (Kidneys, Pancreas, Liver)
  • Bladder
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    Fig. 23: Heart
    Vascular System-Sonographers look for carotid arteries which can cause strokes. These carotid arteries can cause DVT (deep vein thrombosis) in the legs which could result in blood clots.

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    Brain - Generally, sonographers look only in fetus' and 1-3 month old babies' brains. This is because ultrasound can't get through our thick, dense skulls. They look for brain development and bleeding.

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    Prostate- When doctors perform a biopsy, they generally use ultrasound to guide the needle to the affected area.

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    Breasts - Sonographers look in breasts for cysts (fluid filled sacs). If they find a benign cyst, there is no cancer. However, a malignant cyst could result in cancer.

  • Breast

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    Musculoskeletal (MCS)- Ultrasounds can reveal tears in the achilles tendon, rotator cuff or other tendons. The majority of these patients are seniors or athletes.

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    Fig. 24: Eye
    Eyes- Ultrasonography of the eye is quick, painless, and simple. The ultrasound probe is placed directly on the closed eyelid, which is first covered in ultrasound jelly to provide good contact. This technique can show:

  • Retinal detachments
  • Vitreous haemorrhage
  • Metal splinters in the eye or the retro-orbital tissues.

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    Ultrasound is so safe, that veterinarians are starting to use it on our animal friends. They use it to diagnose various disorders and animal fetuses.