Ultrasound

What is Ultrasound?

Ultrasound (US) imaging, also called sonography, is a method of obtaining images of internal organs by sending high-frequency sound waves into the body. The sound wave echoes are recorded and displayed as a real-time visual image. No x-ray is involved in ultrasound imaging.

The ultrasound transducer functions as both a loudspeaker (to create the sounds) and a microphone (to record them). As the sound waves echo from the internal organs, the sensitive microphone in the transducer records tiny changes in the sound's pitch and direction. These signature waves are instantly measured and displayed by a computer, which in turn creates a real-time or live picture on the monitor. Still frames of the live picture are usually "frozen" to capture a series of images which are sent to the radiologist for interpretation. Because ultrasound provides real time images, it can also be used to guide procedures, such as needle biopsies, in which a thin needle is used to sample cells from an abnormal area for laboratory testing.