An Ultrasound Study, also known as a sonogram, transforms sound waves from your body into an image.
The individual performing the ultrasound study is known as a sonographer. This technologist is highly skilled and educated, and works under close supervision of the radiologists. Most ultrasounds are done using a transducer on the surface of the skin after an acoustic (sound) gel is applied. Sometimes, however, doctors and technologists can get a better diagnostic image by inserting a special transducer into one of the body’s natural openings. The transducer sends a signal to an on-board computer that processes the data and produces the ultrasound image. A diagnosis is made from this image.
An ultrasound, also known as a sonogram, translates sound waves from your body into an image. Relying on sound, rather than radiation, an ultrasound is a very safe way to view a patient, internally. It is frequently used to analyze images of unborn children, organs, and even veins and arteries.
What Should I Expect During an Ultrasound?
During the exam, the patient lies on a table as a sonographer applies an acoustic (sound) gel to an area of the skin. He or she will then hold a small, hand-held, microphone-like device, called a transducer, over that area. The transducer sends sound waves into the body and collects the reflected echoes they make. Those echoes translate into an image, which can be used as a diagnostic tool.