Ultrasound and Echocardiography
Ultrasound (or sonography) uses reflected sound waves to create real-time images of soft tissues, including muscles, blood vessels and organs. Because sound waves are used, there is no radiation exposure during this procedure. A warm gel is applied to the skin for better transmission and reception. The sound waves return as echoes and are recorded as images on a computer monitor.
Although most commonly used to examine the fetus during pregnancy, it is also an effective tool for monitoring blood flow using Doppler ultrasound technology. Ultrasound is commonly used to perform obstetric, breast and thyroid scans, and to diagnose diseases of the blood vessels or to determine causes for abdominal and pelvic pain.
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Danville Campus
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Martinsville Campus
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Frequently Asked Questions
Ultrasound imaging may be used in obstetrical, gynecologic, breast, cardiac, abdominal and vascular imaging.
The procedure involves using sound waves to project real-time internal images. Medical advancements have allowed for three and four dimensional images to be produced.
Echocardiography uses sound waves to image the heart.
What is it?
Uses sounds waves to create an image. Does not expose you to radiation.
Uses
Because high-frequency sound waves cannot penetrate bone or air, they are especially useful in imaging soft tissues and fluid filled spaces.
Ultrasound is good at non-invasively imaging a number of soft tissue organs without x-rays:
- Heart
- Pelvis and reproductive organs
- Kidneys, liver, pancreas, gall bladder
- Thyroid
- Blood vessels
- Fetus
Ultrasound Biopsy is also being used more and more to image the breasts and to guide biopsy of breast cancer.
What Happens
The person giving the test places gel and a device called a transducer on your skin while you are lying down. The transducer sends out sound waves that bounce off tissues in your baby.
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