There are many uses of ultrasound technology, and it is especially useful when trying to visualize soft tissues, such as soft tissues of organs and muscles. When tissues of different densities encounter ultrasound waves https://prestigeer.com/services/imaging/ultrasound, the ultrasound machine reflects and measures an echo. In other words, echo characteristics, including intensity and timing, depend on the characteristics of the soft tissues within the body.

Because tumors and other abnormalities usually have a different density from the surrounding tissue https://prestigeer.com/services/imaging/ultrasound, ultrasound scans tend to show them clearly. Soft tissue can be difficult to examine using imaging methods such as X-rays. These tests work better for hard tissues, such as bones, and are less reliable for soft tissue.

Keeping yourself safe

The ultrasound imaging process is based solely on high-frequency sound waves that produce images. It differs from other imaging tests because it does not use radiation to produce images. Therefore, ultrasounds do not pose any risk of radiation-related problems. Many imaging methods require the use of substances known as contrast agents that are needed to highlight certain body issues during diagnostic imaging.

Contrast agents are usually taken orally or as injections by patients, so the substances circulate throughout their entire body as soon as they are taken. Some people are allergic to contrast agents, and ultrasound does not use these dyes, so it is safer for them to undergo the scanning process. Even though ultrasound has been used for decades, no documented health risks or side effects have been associated with exposure to high-frequency sound waves. A high level of safety is why ultrasound is often regarded as one of the first-line imaging techniques by healthcare providers.

Noninvasive approaches

It is usually the responsibility of the ultrasound technician to apply the probe only to the areas that require visualization, such as the belly of a pregnant woman or the neck of a person who is having their thyroid gland checked. It is also possible that the radiologist will have to place the probe inside the body cavity if they wish to take images of a certain organ, but he or she will not break the skin or cause any impact.

For example, it is important to have a transvaginal ultrasound to get clear images of the uterus and ovaries. As part of real-time surgical procedures, ultrasound may be used to guide the placement of a probe inside the body or to guide actual surgical operations. In these situations, ultrasound will not break the skin but will be used for guidance.