Ultrasound - PERLA Health

Ultrasound

Ultrasound is a technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of what is happening inside the body. It is most commonly used in pregnancy, to monitor the health of an unborn baby. For an ultrasound scan, which is also called sonogram, ultrasound probes called transducers are used. They produce frequencies which are too high for humans to hear. The sound waves of the transducers are reflected back by the tissue and organs and create an “echo”, which then can be calculated into an image. Ultrasound is often used in pregnancy, but also helps to guide surgeons during surgery or to diagnose a condition, such as polycystic ovaries in PCOS. For the diagnosis of PCOS, an ultrasound method called transvaginal ultrasound is often used.

Sources:

  1. NIH: National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. Ultrasound. https://www.nibib.nih.gov/science-education/science-topics/ultrasound (accessed 7. August 2020)
  2. NHS UK. Ultrasound scan. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ultrasound-scan/ (accessed 7. August 2020)
  3. Mayo Clinic. Ultrasound. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/ultrasound/about/pac-20395177 (accessed 7. August 2020)

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