All About Ultrasonography

     Ultrasonography is a noninvasive diagnostic technique in which sound waves are passed into internal body structures and are deflected back, producing an image of the abdominal organs and structures on the oscilloscope.This procedure is generally used to indicate size and configuration of these abdominal structures. It is particularly useful on the detection of cholelithiasis, cholecystitis and appendicitis.

     Uses of Abdominal ultrasound: To find out the condition of the abdominal organs after an accident or abdominal injury and look for blood in the abdominal cavity. The computed tomography (CT) scanning is more commonly used for this purpose because it is more precise than abdominal ultrasound. To find out the main cause of abdominal pain.To look for fluid buildup in the abdominal cavity. An ultrasound may also be done to guide the needle during a procedure to remove fluid from the abdominal cavity. To find, measure, or monitor an aneurysm in the aorta. An aneurysm can cause a large, pulsing lump in the abdomen.To check the size, shape, and position of the liver. An ultrasound may be done to evaluate jaundice and other problems of the liver, including liver masses, cirrhosis, fat deposits in the liver, or abnormal liver function tests. To detect gallstones, inflammation of the gallbladder, or blocked bile ducts.To detect presence of kidney stones. To find out the size of an enlarged spleen and look for damage or disease.To detect problems with the pancreas, such as pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer. To find out the cause of urine blocked flow in the kidney. A kidney ultrasound can also be done to find out the size of the kidneys, detect kidney masses, detect fluid surrounding the kidneys, investigate the causes for recurring urinary tract infections, or check the condition of transplanted kidneys. To guide the placement of a needle or other instrument during a biopsy.To find out whether a mass in any of the abdominal organs is a solid tumor or a simple fluid-filled cyst.
Abdominal ultrasound can be used to diagnose abnormalities in various internal organs, such as the abdominal aorta, kidneys, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen. If Doppler imaging is added, the blood flow inside
 blood vessels can also be evaluated as well.

     Abdominal ultrasound examinations are performed by gastroenterologists or certain other specialists in internal medicine, radiologists or sonographers that are trained for this procedure.

     Advantages of ultrasound imaging of abdominal structures are that the procedure can be performed quickly, done at bed-side, involves no exposure to X-rays (which makes it useful in pregnant patients, for example), it requires no ionizing radiation. There are no noticeable side effects and is inexpensive compared to other often-used techniques such as computed tomography (CT scan) of the abdomen.

     The imaging occurs real-time and there is no required sedation, so that the influence of movements can be assessed quickly.

     One disadvantage is that this technique cannot be used to examine structures that lie behind bony tissue, which prevents passage of sound waves to deeper structures. Gas and fluid in the abdomen or air in the lungs also presents problems because ultrasound is not well transmitted through gas, air, or fluid.