What is Ultrasound?

Ultrasound produces images of soft tissue and organs in the body through the use of sound waves that reflect back and are displayed as a real-time image. Ultrasound can detect diseased or damaged tissues, locate abnormal growths and identify a wide variety of conditions, enabling your radiologist to make a quick and accurate diagnosis. No radiation is used during an ultrasound exam.

Ultrasound uses a transducer – a wand-shaped device – that when gently pressed against the skin directs high-frequency sound waves into the body. These sound waves echo back and the transducer electronically converts the reflected waves into very precise images of the body.

Doppler Vascular Ultrasound

A Doppler vascular ultrasound produces precise images and measurements of many blood vessels in the body. It is commonly used to image the carotid artery in the neck, or arteries and veins in legs and arms. It can detect diseased vessels and identify a wide variety of changing conditions, enabling your doctor to make a quick and accurate diagnosis.

For more information on this and other radiology procedures, please visit RadiologyInfo.org.