What Are Some Uses For Ultrasound?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  • View the uterus and ovaries during pregnancy and monitor the developing baby’s health.
  • Diagnose gallbladder disease.
  • Evaluate blood flow.
  • Guide a needle for biopsy or tumor treatment.
  • Examine a breast lump.
  • Check your thyroid gland.
  • Detect genital and prostate problems.

What are ultrasounds used for besides pregnancy?

Ultrasounds are used to

help diagnose and monitor many different conditions in different parts of the body

. For example, ultrasound is used to look at the heart (echocardiogram), the liver, spleen, and gall bladder (abdominal ultrasound), and the ovaries and uterus (pelvic ultrasound) among other applications.

What are two ways that an ultrasound is used?

One of the most common uses of ultrasound is during pregnancy,

to monitor the growth and development of the fetus

, but there are many other uses, including imaging the heart, blood vessels, eyes, thyroid, brain, breast, abdominal organs, skin, and muscles.

What ultrasound can detect?

Ultrasound is used to create images of soft tissue structures, such as the gallbladder, liver, kidneys, pancreas, bladder, and other organs and parts of the body. Ultrasound can also

measure the flow of blood in the arteries to detect blockages

. Ultrasound testing is safe and easy to perform.

What are 3 uses of ultrasound?

Doctors commonly use ultrasound to

study a developing fetus (unborn baby)

, a person’s abdominal and pelvic organs, muscles and tendons, or their heart and blood vessels. Other names for an ultrasound scan include sonogram or (when imaging the heart) an echocardiogram.

How do humans use ultrasound?

A small device called an ultrasound probe is used, which

gives off high-frequency sound waves

. You can’t hear these sound waves, but when they bounce off different parts of the body, they create “echoes” that are picked up by the probe and turned into a moving image.

How much does an ultrasound cost?

CPT/HCPCS CODE Procedure Description

Average

(Estimated) Total
76805

Ultrasound

Ob Comp $374
76815

Ultrasound

Ob Ltd/Fetal Position $242
76700 US Abd Comp $374 76775

Ultrasound

Aorta/Venacava Ltd $374

Can you use your phone during an ultrasound?

Cell phones, recording, taping or

photographing are strictly prohibited during your visit to our office

. Because many ultrasounds require a high degree of accuracy, technique and observation, we ask that you limit the number of people that accompany you to your ultrasound visits.

Why would a doctor order an abdominal ultrasound?

An abdominal ultrasound can

help your doctor evaluate the cause of stomach pain or bloating

. It can help check for kidney stones, liver disease, tumors and many other conditions. Your doctor may recommend that you have an abdominal ultrasound if you’re at risk of an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

What are the disadvantages of ultrasound?

Disadvantages of ultrasonography include the fact this imaging modality is operator and patient dependent,

it is unable to image the cystic duct

, and it has a decreased sensitivity for common bile duct stones.

Is an Ultrasound painful?

A majority of ultrasounds are done externally, on the outside of your body. The only feeling throughout the scan would be the temperature of the translucent gel that is used and a slight moving of the transducer on your body, so

the pain is virtually non existent.

What happens during Ultrasound?

The transducer

sends high-frequency sound waves through your body

. The waves echo as they hit a dense object, such as an organ or bone. Those echoes are then reflected back into a computer. The sound waves are at too high of a pitch for the human ear to hear.

Can you see stool on an ultrasound?

In addition to its ability to show both hard and soft feces,

ultrasound can show significant fecal loading in patients for

whom no feces was palpable.

Can an ultrasound detect infection?

Ultrasound is a valuable tool in the evaluation of skin and soft tissue infections, enhancing our ability to diagnose an

abscess cavity or deeper infection

and has been shown to be more reliable than clinical exam alone.

Can a tumor be seen on an ultrasound?

Ultrasound images are not as detailed as those from CT or MRI scans.

Ultrasound cannot tell whether a tumor is cancer

. Its use is also limited in some parts of the body because the sound waves can’t go through air (such as in the lungs) or through bone.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.