Reviewed by: Aaron Stewart, MD, Obstetrics & Gynecology
Is an Ultrasound and a Sonogram the Similar Factor?
Sonography is the appliance of ultrasound know-how to diagnose medical situations. Sonographers are skilled medical technicians who carry out ultrasounds, generate photos of your physique, and supply medical doctors with the photographs. Sonography is typically known as ultrasonography.
The phrases “sonogram” and “ultrasound” are sometimes used interchangeably. Whereas folks will typically perceive what’s meant no matter which phrase is used, technically they’re not synonyms.
The confusion is probably going a results of the utilization of each phrases within the description of “sonography”. What’s sonography? Sonography refers to the usage of ultrasound instruments for diagnostic functions. Usually, an ultrasound is a process and a sonogram is the image it produces.
Extra on the distinction between sonogram and ultrasound is offered beneath.
What’s an Ultrasound?
An ultrasound is a straightforward, radiation-free, non-invasive process. Many individuals are acquainted with it from its use throughout being pregnant to offer medical doctors with a picture of the fetus in a mom’s womb. Nonetheless, there are a lot of different makes use of of an ultrasound.
How Does an Ultrasound Work?
An ultrasound makes use of sound waves to supply an image of a construction or space contained in the physique, or to have an effect on tissue within the physique. There are a number of sorts of ultrasounds, together with:
- Elastography is used to find out what’s wholesome tissue and what’s a tumor.
- Bone sonography helps medical doctors inform how dense bone is.
- Doppler ultrasound is used to evaluate blood circulate within the coronary heart and blood vessels.
- Therapeutic ultrasound can break up or warmth tissue as a type of therapy.
- Excessive depth centered ultrasound (HIFU) is used to assist the physique get rid of irregular tissue.
Typically, an ultrasound is used on the pores and skin floor. Nonetheless, in some instances, a tool is inserted right into a physique opening to seize a greater picture. Examples embody:
- Transvaginal ultrasound
- Transrectal ultrasound
- Transesophageal echocardiogram
What’s an Ultrasound Used For?
Ultrasounds can be utilized in some ways. One space the place they’re helpful is in diagnostics. The photographs captured utilizing ultrasound know-how assist medical doctors diagnose situations affecting mushy tissues and organs.
Docs use ultrasounds to look at the next mushy tissues and organs:
- Kidneys
- Ovaries
- Liver
- Eyes
- Stomach
- Coronary heart
- Blood Vessels
- Gallbladder
- Spleen
- Pancreas
- Thyroid
- Bladder
- Breast
- Testicles
In medical procedures, ultrasounds can be utilized to assist information a physician similar to after they’re performing a needle biopsy. Ultrasounds can be used therapeutically to assist deal with mushy tissue accidents.
What’s a Sonogram?
A sonogram is a picture produced by an ultrasound process. The time period sonogram loosely interprets as “sound writing,” for the reason that sound waves successfully “write” the picture that’s produced.
What’s a Sonogram Used For?
Sonograms help medical doctors in evaluating organs for infections, injury, or illness. Pregnant girls might get ultrasounds to generate sonograms of the fetus. Doing so permits a physician to verify a child’s improvement and well being.
Studying a Sonogram Image
Studying the sonogram from a prenatal ultrasound is simple if you realize what to search for. For instance, black areas typically point out fluid, similar to amniotic fluid or blood. Vibrant white areas point out stable buildings similar to bone. In between can be shades of grey that will signify organ buildings. With that in thoughts, figuring out issues just like the child’s head or legs will help you get oriented.
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