The ultrasound scan is also known as an echocardiogram, sonogram, Doppler ultrasound, and sonography/sonogram. Regardless of the term used by your doctor or the imaging center, the ultrasound scan in Glendale, CA is an imaging test that uses high-frequency sound waves, which pass through your body. Sound waves can reflect or bounce off internal tissues and organs, which are then recorded and displayed on a screen so that the technician or doctor can see the results.
Equipment Used
Most ultrasound scanners have a computer, transducer, and video screen. The transducer is a handheld device, which is placed on the body.
How They’re Used
Ultrasounds can be used to monitor and view various parts of the body, such as the abdominal organs, heart, muscles, tendons and any soft tissues. It can also be used as a diagnostic tool to diagnose pregnancy and other conditions.
Some hospitals and clinics use ultrasound to guide them through procedures because it provides the doctor with real-time images. One such procedure is the biopsy, where a needle is inserted into the area of the body to retrieve cells for laboratory tests.
Benefits
While the test you require may be invasive, such as a biopsy, the ultrasound scanning itself is noninvasive. The transducer sits on top of the body, and nothing is inserted into the bloodstream, such as radioactive tracers for PET scans. As such, radiation of any sort is not used, unlike with X-ray machines.
Another benefit is that you get real-time results, which means you can find out what is wrong or your doctor can immediately use the results to determine what course of action is next.
What to Expect
You should expect to lie down on an exam table and may be asked to raise or remove clothing so that the technician can apply a special gel to the area. The technologist will move the transducer around on the body, applying some gentle pressure to produce the full image. For more visit Glendale MRI.
