Can ultrasound help me?
Although Ultrasound cannot be heard it is a high frequency sound that can be emitted and detected by special machines. When parts of your body are exposed to high-frequency sound waves to create pictures of the inside of the body it is called ultrasound imaging, ultrasound scanning or sonography. Xrays use ionizing radiation, ultrasound examinations do not. Ultrasound images can show the structure and movement of the body's internal organs, as well as blood flowing through blood vessels because ultrasound images are captured in real-time.
Images of the internal organs created from sound waves make an ultrasound scan. The images are created when the sound waves are directed into the body then reflected back to a scanner that measures them. The ultrasound scanner looks like a little paint roller. As it moves back and forth over the body, it sends sound waves through the skin and muscles. These waves then appear on a TV screen as an picture. The scan can also be copied onto paper or X-ray film.
The way the ultrasound scan is performed depends on the purpose of the exam. The scanner can be used through the natural openings of the body, such as the mouth or vagina or externally on the skin.
The way the ultrasound bounces back from different tissues can help to determine the size, shape and consistency of organs, structures and abnormalities. Sonography which produces pictures of fetuses in the human womb is probably the most well-known use of ultrasound. There are a vast number of other applications as well.
Abnormalities of heart structures such as the heart valves can be found. (An ultrasound scan of the heart is called an echocardiogram.) It can help to diagnose problems of the liver, gallbladder (such as gallstones), pancreas, thyroid gland, lymph nodes, ovaries, testes, kidneys, bladder and breast. E.g. it can help to ascertain if an abnormal lump in one of these organs is a solid tumor or a fluid-filled cyst.
Ultrasound scans are painless and safe. Ultrasound does not use radiation unlike X-rays and other imaging tests. It has not been found to cause any problems or complications.
Conventional ultrasound displays the images in thin, flat sections of the body. Ultrasound technological advancements include three-dimensional (3-D) ultrasound that formats the sound wave data into 3-D images. Four-dimensional (4-D) ultrasound is 3-D ultrasound in motion.
A 2D ultrasound scan is routine for pregnant women as it can help to monitor the growth of an unborn child, and check for abnormalities. 3D and 4D scans are not currently available as part of a routine scan through the NHS.
4D Ultrasound scans are a way of getting real-time moving images of your baby whilst still in your womb. They are carried out on special 4D Ultrasound Machines. You can have a 4d ultrasound scan carried out from week 26 of your pregnancy. Most 4d scans are completed between weeks 26-32 as your baby is fully developed and is moving around freely in your womb. Your baby's movements are more restricted after 32 weeks due to its size so you may not get the best images. Choosing a clinic for your 4d ultrasound scan is an important part of the pregnancy process.
For further info on 4D ultrasound, to see our gallery of 4D images or to take advantage of our special offers, please visit our webpage at www.4Dbabyimages.co.uk.
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