BRECKINRIDGE HEALTH, INC
1011 Old Highway 60
Hardinsburg, KY 40143
270-756-7000
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1011 Old Highway 60 Hardinsburg, KY 40143 270-756-7000 |
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Breckinridge Memorial Foundation Breckinridge Memorial Nursing Facility Breckinridge Memorial Home Health Notification of Privacy Practices |
Medical Ultrasound Fact Sheet What is diagnostic medical ultrasound? Diagnostic medical ultrasound is a procedure that uses high frequency sound waves(ultrasound) to produce dynamic images(or sonograms) of organs, tissues, or blood flow inside the body. This procedure is often referred to as an ultrasound scan or ultrasound examination. Diagnostic medical ultrasound is used to examine many parts of the body, such as the abdomen, breast, reproductive system, heart and blood vessels. Diagnostic medical ultrasound is increasingly being used in the detection of heart disease and vascular disease, as well as for the detection of injuries to the muscles, tendons and ligaments. Unlike many imaging procedures, ultrasound does not use x-rays. An ultrasound examination involves using an instrument called a transducer. The transducer works like a loudspeaker and microphone because it can transmit and receive sound. The transducer sends a stream of high frequency sound waves into the body and detects their echoes as they bounce off internal structures. Different structures in the body reflect these sound waves differently. A computer translates this information to generate images of the structure(s) on a computer monitor. There are several areas of specialization in the field of diagnostic medical ultrasound including: Abdominal ultrasound-evaluation of all the soft tissues, blood vessels, and organs of the abdominal cavities (e.g., liver, spleen, urinary tract and pancreas). Breast ultrasound-evaluation of breast abnormalities that are found with screening or diagnostic mammography. Echocardiography-evaluation of the anatomy and hemodynamics (blood flow) of the heart, its valves, and related vessels. Obstetric/Gynecologic ultrasound-evaluation of the female reproductive system. Vascular Ultrasound-evaluation and analysis of the hemodynamics (blood flow) of peripheral and abdominal blood vessels. What do ultrasound professionals do? A diagnostic medical sonographer is a highly skilled professional who performs ultrasound examinations using specialized equipment to produce high-quality images of structures inside the human body. After the examination, the sonographer reviews the images and the patient's history with a physician trained in the interpretation of ultrasound. Sometimes a physician (or sonologist) will perform the ultrasound examination. Although a sonographer plays a critical role in extracting the information necessary to derive a diagnosis, the rendering of a final diagnosis of an ultrasound study is the responsibility of the supervising radiologist.
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