The ultrasound image is immediately visible on a video monitor. The gel allows sound waves to travel back and forth between the transducer and the area under examination. The technologist applies a small amount of gel to the area under examination and places the transducer there. The same principles apply to sonar used by boats and submarines. The transducer sends out inaudible, high-frequency sound waves into the body and listens for the returning echoes. Some exams may use different transducers (with different capabilities) during a single exam. The transducer is a small hand-held device that resembles a microphone. Ultrasound machines consist of a computer console, video monitor and an attached transducer. With knowledge about the speed and volume of blood flow gained from a Doppler ultrasound image, the doctor can often determine whether a patient is a good candidate for a procedure like angioplasty. increased blood flow, which may be a sign of infection.reduced or absent blood flow to various organs, such as the testes or ovary.tumors and congenital vascular malformations.blockages to blood flow (such as clots).Ultrasound of the heart is commonly called an "echocardiogram" or "echo" for short.ĭoppler ultrasound helps the doctor to see and evaluate: diagnose a variety of heart conditions, including valve problems and congestive heart failure, and to assess damage after a heart attack.image the breasts and guide biopsy of breast cancer ( see the Ultrasound-Guided Breast Biopsy page.guide procedures such as needle biopsies, in which needles remove cells from an abnormal area for laboratory testing.uterus, ovaries, and unborn child ( fetus) in pregnant patients.heart and blood vessels, including the abdominal aorta and its major branches.Ultrasound is a useful way of examining many of the body's internal organs, including but not limited to the: Ultrasound exams can help diagnose a variety of conditions and assess organ damage following illness. What are some common uses of the procedure? It can also convert blood flow information into a distinctive sound that can be heard with every heartbeat. Spectral Doppler displays blood flow measurements graphically, in terms of the distance traveled per unit of time, rather than as a color picture.Power Doppler, however, does not help the radiologist determine the direction of blood flow, which may be important in some situations. Power Doppler is a newer technique that is more sensitive than color Doppler and capable of providing greater detail of blood flow, especially when blood flow is little or minimal.Color Doppler uses a computer to convert Doppler measurements into an array of colors to show the speed and direction of blood flow through a blood vessel.There are three types of Doppler ultrasound: It allows the doctor to see and evaluate blood flow through arteries and veins in the body. Advancements in ultrasound technology include three-dimensional (3-D) ultrasound that formats the sound wave data into 3-D images.Ī Doppler ultrasound study may be part of an ultrasound examination.ĭoppler ultrasound is a special ultrasound technique that evaluates movement of materials in the body. Conventional ultrasound displays the images in thin, flat sections of the body.
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