Comparison of X-Ray and Ultrasound

A diagnostic medical sonographer is also known as an ultrasound technologist, or simply a sonographer. They use high-frequency sound waves, which are an offshoot of World War two sonar technology, to produce images of the internal body (“Diagnostic” 162). This picture is shown when the sound waves bounce off the internal body, and then become echoes that are now displayed as a two-dimensional black and white image on video. These images are then studied by a physician who studies the function of organs. A sonographer not only completes procedures for pregnant women as it is most known, but also for cysts, abdominal tumors, and the functions of blood vessels and heart valves.

Diagnostic medical sonographers play a key role in the health care team and often work alongside doctors, nurses, and other technologists. They prepare patients by explaining the procedure and collect necessary patient history information prior to examination. An ultrasound is then performed, which is a non-invasive process that enables sonographers to send high-frequency sound waves into the body. The return signals are then analyzed to help visualize internal organs in 2D, 3D or 4D. These images help physicians with medical diagnoses and are also used for monitoring pregnancy. An ultrasound is often executed on many different areas of the body including the abdomen, pelvis, tissues, and vascular and cardiac systems. A DMS may also be required

- Even though the X-ray expose patient to harmful radiation it is used to see inside the human body and diagnose broken bones, gallstones and later tuberculosis.

Being able to identify lumps, swelling, tissue damage, cysts, and the overwhelming news of the sex of a baby all have something in common, an ultrasound. Swelling of the spleen, kidney stones, blood clots, aneurysms, cancer and so much more can be identified through the works of an ultrasound’s imaging technique. Ultrasound involves many concepts, procedures, and careers. The amount of medical possibilities involved with ultrasounds is useful in major medical diagnostics. The field of ultrasounds and career opportunities are widely growing. As medical careers flourish, needs for technicians in many fields of medicine are increasing. Instead of a doctor choosing complex and risky surgery to find out problems within the body, they can now

Sonography is non-invasive. A sonographer uses equipment that directs high-frequency sound waves to body organs and tissue to generate medical diagnostic images. It does not use radiation and is expected to grow in a professional manor and as a tool used by physicians. This is also a way for many individuals to use non-invasive technology to help assist in diagnostics.

* Ultrasound. An ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to generate images of your internal organs, such as your kidneys and bladder, on a computer screen.

Sonography is a non-invasive medical procedure that uses the echoes of high-frequency sound waves to construct an image of internal organs or body structures. The employment rate is is expected to grow 26 percent from 2014 to 2024. Since ultrasound is non-invasive, it is more encouraged than other methods so the career is always in demand. Diagnostic medical sonographers duties are to prepare and maintain diagnostic imaging equipment, taking a patients medical history, answering questions about the procedure, operating the equipment, review images and test results, know the difference between normal and abnormal images, analyze diagnostic information, record findings, and keep track of patient records. Hospitals, offices of physicians, medical

1. What are the indications for ultrasound? a. Acute and post-acute conditions b. Soft tissue healing and repair c. Scar tissue d. Joint contracture

Sound is a mechanical wave, propagating through a medium in order for it to travel (Venables 2011a). Ultrasound is defined as high frequency sound waves, above the audible range i.e. >20 kHz (Zidan et al. 2011). These waves are formed using the pulse-echo principle (Venables 2011a). This principle refers to the piezoelectric crystals which are situated in the transducer. When an alternating electrical voltage is applied across the transducer element (Lieu 2010), the element undergoes a series of compressions and rarefactions, resulting in electrical energy being converted into mechanical waves (ultrasound). These ultrasound waves propagate through tissues until they reach an acoustic interface. It is here “where there is a change in impedance (an acoustic boundary)” (Venables 2011a, that ultrasound waves will be reflected back to the transducer as echoes. These reflected echoes are then turned into an electrical signal and displayed on the ultrasound image as shades of grey, ranging from black to white.

The biggest difference is if a surgeon looks at an MRI it looks like a shoulder but if a surgeon looks at an ultrasound it may look like a snow storm.

One factor is dose, in other words, the output frequency of the probe; in general, it is thought that higher frequency output carries more risk of causing thermal and mechanical effects (1, 166). It follows then, that ultrasound modes that require a higher output would also be considered a greater risk; for instance, Doppler requires a much higher output than the more traditional B-mode ultrasound (5, 625). A longer duration of the exam has also been shown in animal models to have negative biological effects on the fetus (5, 625) and cumulative effects of multiple ultrasounds over the course of gestation may be an important component as well (1, 169). Finally, gestational age must also be considered; it could be theorized that if any damaging effects from ultrasound are possible, they could be incurred during the vulnerable first trimester (5,

Diagnostic medical sonography is a profession where sonographers direct high-frequency sound waves into a patient’s body through the use of specific equipment to diagnose or monitor a patient’s medical condition. As described by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this examination is referred to as an ultrasound, sonogram, or echocardiogram. The high-frequency sound waves emitted from the handheld device, called a transducer, bounce back creating an echo and therefore produce an image that can be viewed on the sonographers computer screen. This image provides the sonographer and physician with an internal image of the patient’s body that will be used in the diagnosis. The most familiar use of ultrasound is used in monitoring pregnancies

My interest in x-rays and ultrasounds led me to pursue a career in Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

Gill, R., 2012. The physics and technology of diagnostic ultrasound: a practitioner's guide. Abbotsford, N.S.W.: High Frequency Publishing.

Ultrasound or ultrasonography is a medical imaging technique that uses high frequency sound waves. It is a high pitch frequency that cannot be heard by the human ear. In ultra sound the following happens: High frequency sound pulses (1-5megahertz) are transmitted from the ultrasound machine into your body using a probe. The sound wave will travel into your body until it hits an object such as soft tissue and bone. When the sound wave hits these objects some of the wave will be reflected back to the probe. While some waves may carry on further till they hit another object and then reflected back. The probe picks up these reflected sound waves and relays them to the machine. The distance and time from the probe,