What is General Ultrasound Imaging?

Conventional ultrasound displays the images in thin, flat sections of the body. Advancements in ultrasound technology include three-dimensional (3-D) ultrasound that formats the sound wave data into 3-D images.

A Doppler ultrasound study may be part of an ultrasound examination.

Doppler ultrasound is a special ultrasound technique that evaluates movement of materials in the body. It allows the doctor to see and evaluate blood flow through arteries and veins in the body.

There are three types of Doppler ultrasound:

l Color Doppler uses a computer to convert Doppler measurements into an array of colors to show the speed and direction of blood flow through a blood vessel.

l Power Doppler is a newer technique that is more sensitive than color Doppler and capable of providing greater detail of blood flow, especially when blood flow is little or minimal. Power Doppler, however, does not help the radiologist determine the direction of blood flow, which may be important in some situations.

l Spectral Doppler displays blood flow measurements graphically, in terms of the distance traveled per unit of time, rather than as a color picture. It can also convert blood flow information into a distinctive sound that can be heard with every heartbeat.

What are some common uses of the procedure?

Ultrasound exams can help diagnose a variety of conditions and assess organ damage following illness.Doctors use ultrasound to evaluate:

n pain

n swelling

n infection

Ultrasound is a useful way of examining many of the body's internal organs, including but not limited to the:

l heart and blood vessels, including the abdominal aorta and its major branches

l liver

l gallbladder

l spleen

l pancreas

l kidneys

l bladder

l uterus, ovaries, and unborn child (fetus) in pregnant patients

l eyes

l thyroid and parathyroid glands

l scrotum (testicles)

l brain in infants

l hips in infants

l spine in infants

Ultrasound is also used to:

l guide procedures such as needle biopsies, in which needles remove cells from an abnormal area for laboratory testing.

l image the breasts and guide biopsy of breast cancer (see the Ultrasound-Guided Breast Biopsy page.

l diagnose a variety of heart conditions, including valve problems and congestive heart failure, and to assess damage after a heart attack. Ultrasound of the heart is commonly called an "echocardiogram" or "echo" for short.

Doppler ultrasound helps the doctor to see and evaluate:

l blockages to blood flow (such as clots)

l narrowing of vessels

l tumors and congenital vascular malformations

l reduced or absent blood flow to various organs, such as the testes or ovary

l increased blood flow, which may be a sign of infection

With knowledge about the speed and volume of blood flow gained from a Doppler ultrasound image, the doctor can often determine whether a patient is a good candidate for a procedure like angioplasty.