What is ultrasound?
The word ultrasound is derived from the Latin sono meaning sound and the Greek word "graphia" means drawing, while ultrasound comes from ultra meaning "beyond" and "sound" means sound or sound. Ultrasound is a diagnostic medical imaging method that produces dynamic visual images of organs, tissues or blood flow inside the body using high-frequency sound waves.
History of Ultrasound :
In 1876, Francis Galton first discovered the existence of ultrasonication. During the First World War, England developed a submarine detector called sonar to help prevent German submarines from sinking in the North Atlantic. This device produced ultrasonication that was used in finding the routes of ships. The technique was developed during World War II and was later widely used in the country's industry to detect cracks in metals and other applications.
1998 marked the 50th anniversary of diagnostic ultrasound. The first ultrasonic device in medicine was invented by Dosik in 1937 and tested on the human brain. Although ultrasound was originally just to indicate the middle line of the brain, today it is an important diagnostic and therapeutic method and the day-to-day development of a variety of generations of ultrasonic devices has led to huge changes in diagnosis and treatment in medical science.
Comparison of ultrasound with other medical imaging modalities:
According to statistics taken in 2000, ultrasound is the most used in comparison to other imaging methods due to lower cost, more safety, easy transportation and the possibility of providing live images.
CT Scan CT Scan
MRI MRI, and then
Nuclear Imaging Positron propagation tomography (PET scan) is most commonly used.
Ultrasound is preferred over imaging methods that have the possibility of complications. In this way no radiation is used. In a CT scan, the patient is exposed to a significant amount of radiation. And in the case of MRI, the images are made with the help of very strong magnets. MRI is not performed on patients with metal in the body.
Does ultrasound have complications?
The scan test is done on the surface of the skin and there are no complications associated with it. Ultrasound waves are considered safe. When you are exposed to ultrasound waves for longer periods of time, there is a possibility of tissue disruption. But the ultrasound machine computer regulates the power of sound waves, and the ultrasound specialist uses techniques to reduce the duration of exposure to sound waves. So، ultrasound is relatively safe among other imaging methods.
What are the applications of ultrasonic devices?
Ultrasonic devices are used for many purposes. This imaging method is used to examine the abdomen without cutting the skin. Abdominal ultrasound test can detect
Doctors use ultrasound on women, men, and children to gain advanced insight into body functions. In fact, after X-ray examinations, ultrasound is the most widely used diagnostic imaging available today.
Sound waves also produce images of blood flow or fluid, where the image shows the direction of blood flow. It is impossible to pass ultrasound waves through very dense and hard tissues and organs filled with gas.
Ultrasound is used to diagnose various disorders and diseases of children. Ultrasound is used to check the signs of appendicitis by examining the gastrointestinal tract. It is also used to evaluate the bone structure for possible spina bifida or congenital hip dislocation in the fetus.
Despite today's advanced and advanced systems, ultrasound is a science built on simple sound waves. By radiating high-frequency sound waves into the body, doctors translate echoes from tissues and organs into visual and color images that provide valuable medical information. Heart disease, stroke, abnormalities in the abdomen or reproductive system, gallstones, liver damage, and kidney dysfunction are telltale signs that ultrasound can help.
Application of ultrasound in gynecology
A doctor can use ultrasound to diagnose a wide range of gynecologic diseases. For people experiencing pelvic pain, ultrasound may be used as part of a standard pelvic examination to find or rule out conditions such as internal bleeding, pelvic inflammatory disease, abscess, pelvic masses, and endometriosis.
If doctors suspect any of these problems, an ultrasound examination can confirm or identify these concerns.
Application of ultrasound in pregnancy
Ultrasound can be useful in a high-risk pregnancy. Doctors can predict preterm labor by examining the size of the cervix. They can also check how open the tube is and detect ectopic pregnancies. Ultrasound can also help with infertility problems.
The new higher-resolution ultrasound systems allow doctors to confidently and safely monitor the reproductive system in the early stages of fetal development in the reproductive process.
Application of ultrasound in embryo imaging
Because ultrasound uses sound waves to create their own images, it has proven to be safe for both the mother and the baby. A complete fetal examination using ultrasound involves imaging of the head, heart, kidneys, spine, stomach, umbilical cord, bladder and placenta to determine the presence of abnormalities.
The same fetal examination can be used to check the possibility of multiple births, unusual orientation, and if the baby is placed correctly, gender can also be determined. By measuring the fetus, the doctor can also determine the gestational age of the baby to determine the date of pregnancy.
In some cases, as early as the first trimester, a special examination using intrauterine transducer (intravaginal) may be performed to check for conditions that are not easily detectable by a standard abdominal (extra-abdominal) examination that is most commonly used.
Application of ultrasound in breast cancer diagnosis
After skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women. According to the Susan J. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, more than 200,000 women are diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and 64,000 noninvasive breast cancers each year in the United States. More than 2,000 cases in men are also diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the United States. The data shows that 95 percent of patients whose cancer is diagnosed at an early stage have a higher survival rate than those diagnosed later in life.
As a complement to mammography, ultrasound can be an early breast imaging program for women under 40 years old who have dense, or breast implants, or breastfeeding. Ultrasound can also help doctors spot lumps that are detected on mammograms, help diagnose cysts, and guide breast biopsies. If you're 35 or older, doctors recommend breast testing every year as part of your regular health regimen.
Application of ultrasound in heart disease
According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the world, accounting for 17.3 million deaths per year. If all types of cancer are combined, heart disease is the number one killer of women.
Using ultrasound, doctors can pinpoint problem points and prevent patients from life-threatening heart disease as well as stroke and high blood pressure. Using ultrasound, the doctor can imaging the heart muscle to detect damage, congenital defects, or inherited abnormalities. By imaging the carotid artery using a Color Doppler ultrasound, doctors can check for plaque, which is a precursor to potentially fatal coronary artery disease. In some cases، this can help predict the likelihood of coronary artery disease، allowing doctors to prescribe early treatment options.
Application of ultrasound in prostate cancer
According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer among American men and affects one in seven men in their lifetime. Older age, African-American race, and a family history of prostration cancer can increase the likelihood of being diagnosed.
As with other cancers whose cause is unknown, timely diagnosis is the most valuable weapon in this battle. If there is a problem with the prostate, ultrasound can allow the doctor or radiologist to obtain a tissue sample or biopsy of the prostate areas accurately.
The test is done using a small probe and may be combined with other tests, including an important prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. Most men with prostate cancer show high levels of prostate-specific antigen, a protein produced by the prostate gland.
Musculoskeletal
Using ultrasound can determine soft tissue damage, such as nerve damage, ganglion (tumors that grow on tendons), or other superficial injuries. Ultrasound has made it possible for sports medicine to examine sports-related injuries, such as pressurized ligaments in the knee or an injured rotator cuff.
The ability to accurately observe movable tendons in the hand is clinically significant for orthopedic and hand surgeons. Using ultrasound, doctors can detect the internal structures of the nerves of the wrist to become trapped or swollen, potentially causing carpal tunnel syndrome. Muscle injuries of the ankle, thigh, knee, or elbow can also be resolved using this portable and safe diagnostic method.
