What are the medical applications of ultrasound?
1. Imaging:- General sonography: Real-time imaging of soft tissues, organs, and blood vessels.
- Echocardiography: Ultrasound of the heart, including 2D, 3D, and Doppler modes.
- Obstetrics and gynecology: Assessment of pregnancy, fetal development, and abnormalities.
- Urology: Imaging of the kidneys, bladder, and prostate.
- Gastroenterology: Visualization of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and intestines.
- Musculoskeletal: Examination of muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints.
2. Doppler Studies:
- Blood flow analysis: Measurement of blood flow velocity and direction in arteries and veins.
- Color Doppler: Color-coded display of blood flow patterns, often combined with B-mode imaging.
- Transcranial Doppler: Ultrasound evaluation of blood flow in the brain.
3. Vascular Imaging:
- Carotid artery imaging: Detection of plaque and stenosis in carotid arteries.
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening: Identification of aortic enlargement.
- Peripheral artery disease assessment: Evaluation of blood flow in the limbs.
4. Breast Imaging:
- Breast ultrasound: Supplemental imaging to mammography for detecting breast abnormalities.
- Elastography: Ultrasound technique that evaluates tissue stiffness to detect lesions.
5. Interventional Procedures:
- Ultrasound-guided biopsies: Precise needle guidance for tissue sampling.
- Therapeutic interventions: Ultrasound guidance for injections, fluid removal, and other treatments.
6. Obstetric Procedures:
- Amniocentesis: Ultrasound-guided sampling of amniotic fluid for genetic testing.
- Chorionic villus sampling (CVS): Ultrasound-guided sampling of placental tissue.
7. Cardiovascular Assessment:
- Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE): Ultrasound of the heart via the esophagus.
- Stress echocardiography: Ultrasound evaluation of heart function during stress.
8. Neurological Applications:
- Transcranial Doppler: Assessment of blood flow in cerebral arteries.
- Neurosonography: Imaging of brain structures in neonates and infants.
9. Ophthalmic Applications:
- Ocular ultrasound: Evaluation of the eye and surrounding structures.
- Biometry: Ultrasound measurement of eye dimensions for planning refractive surgeries.
10. Endocrine Applications:
- Thyroid ultrasound: Examination of thyroid gland structure and nodules.
- Parathyroid ultrasound: Imaging of parathyroid glands for detecting abnormal growths.
11. Intraoperative Imaging:
- Ultrasound during surgeries: Real-time visualization of anatomical structures during procedures.