What is General Ultrasound Imaging?

Ultrasound imaging, or sonography, is a method of obtaining images from inside the human body through the use of sound waves. The reflected sound wave echoes are recorded and displayed as a real-time visual image. No ionizing radiation (x-ray) is involved in ultrasound imaging.

Ultrasound is a useful way of examining many of the body's internal organs, such as the heart, liver, and many others. Of course millions of expectant parents see the first images of their unborn child by viewing an ultrasound of the uterus and fetus.

3-D and 4-D ultrasound images may also be available through our facility, though are not guaranteed. These images are taken from the standard 2-D images and processed by the computer to make them 3 dimensional. A 4-D image is simply a moving (real-time) version of a 3-D image. The ability to obtain a good 3-D image is nevertheless still very dependent on the amount of amniotic fluid, the baby’s position, maternal size, and other factors. These images are often only for entertainment, though now and then 3-D images are valuable for diagnostics purposes as well.

What are the benefits vs. risks?

Benefits

Ultrasound scanning is noninvasive (no needles or injections in most cases) and is usually painless.

Ultrasound is widely available and easy to use.

Ultrasound uses no ionizing radiation and is the preferred image modality for diagnosis and monitoring of pregnant women and their unborn infants.

Ultrasound provides real-time imaging, making it a good tool for guiding minimally invasive procedures such as needle biopsies.

Ultrasound images can visualize structure, movement and live function in the body's organs and blood vessels.

Risks

For standard diagnostic ultrasound there are no known harmful effects.