Sonography

• Sonography


  A medical investigation which uses high frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to assess organs, tissues, and blood flow inside the body
• Ultrasound exam


  1. Sonographer uses a transducer/probe

  2. Probe emits high-frequency sound waves

  3. Sound waves bounce back to ultrasound machine

  4. Information relayed to produce images on a computer screen
• Ultrasound exams


  • Provide key diagnostic information to doctors about a patient's medical condition
  • Assist in their treatment and care
• Diagnostic medical ultrasounds


  Ordered by doctors, performed by sonographers, interpreted and reported by a radiologist or other medical specialist
• Sonographers


  Medical professionals, specially trained to perform these tests
• Sonographers

  Medical detectives, specially trained to perform ultrasound tests
• Sonographers

  • Use their ultrasound training, technical skills, and understanding of the human body and its systems to determine if structures are normal or abnormal
  • Adapt their investigation as they find clues throughout an examination
  • Provide information used by doctors to determine necessary treatment or next steps for the patient
• Where sonographers work


  • Hospitals
  • Clinics
  • As educators
  • As application specialists
  • As sales representatives with medical equipment companies
  • In research
• Ultrasound exam

  A medical exam where a sonographer will ask questions, place ultrasound gel and a probe on the area in question, and take pictures to show the doctor
• Ultrasound exam process

  1. Sonographer asks questions

  2. Sonographer places ultrasound gel and probe on area

  3. Sonographer moves probe and adjusts machine to get best view

  4. Sonographer takes pictures throughout the investigation
• Ultrasound exams take time, ranging from around 25 minutes to more than an hour and a half
• Sonographer's role

  Prepares a summary of what they saw and passes it along with the pictures to the doctor for the final report
• The doctor who makes the report for an ultrasound exam relies on the sonographer's findings about the patient's history, symptoms, and investigation
• Common ultrasound exams


  • Abdomen
  • Pelvis
  • Uterus and fallopian tubes
  • Thyroid
  • Scrotum
  • Breast
  • Musculoskeletal structure
  • Cardiac (the heart)
  • Arteries and veins
• For obstetrical scans, after the technical portion of the exam is done, support people may be allowed into the room