Ultrasounds were first used for diagnostic medicine in the late fifties. Technology advanced quickly in the field and today they are used more often than any other type of diagnostic procedure. Essentially they utilize high frequency sound waves to create images of the inside of the body. Physicians use them to check for a number of different issues. There are several advantages and disadvantages to using an ultrasound. Here’s a review of the pros and cons involved with this very common procedure.
Pros
There are many advantages offered by an ultrasound, advantages that help highlight just why sonography is relied on so frequently.
- An ultrasound is completely noninvasive in most instances. In certain cases a probe may need to be inserted into the mouth, anus, or vagina in order to get a more accurate scan of some body parts like the prostate, but in the majority of ultrasounds there is no invasion at all.
- It’s safe, as well. No real risks have been associated with ultrasounds and no side effects have ever been reported.
- Compared to other diagnostic procedures it’s relatively inexpensive.
- Ultrasounds are highly versatile. Physicians and specialists in numerous different fields rely on an ultrasound to diagnose illnesses, injuries, and more.
- An ultrasound can show the detailed structure of organs, letting doctors look for structural abnormalities and defects.
- Live scanning is the norm with an ultrasound, and the sonography technician can ensure that each image they capture is worth saving. In other types of scans there may be unusable images.
- Today’s portable devices make it possible to conduct an ultrasound almost anywhere. The patient never has to leave their room.
Cons
As with anything, there are a handful of drawbacks associated with ultrasounds.
- It can be very difficult to scan obese patients. The high levels of fat and further distance to the abdominal cavity often make it harder to get a quality image.
- An ultrasound can’t scan through bone.
- The quality of ultrasound images depend largely upon the ultrasound technician’s skills.
- The lack of a scout image makes it difficult to determine the location of the scan. Proper labeling is vital.
- Areas of gas buildup can make it difficult to complete a quality scan as well due to the difference in impedance.
In most cases an ultrasound will be the first form of diagnostic test that a doctor will order. The pros far outweigh the cons, and it’s likely that diagnostic medical sonography will continue to be used for decades.
