Ultrasound is also referred to as USG (ultrasonography) or Sonography. It is a test of imaging that utilizes sound waves to produce a picture of the interior of the body such as organs, tissues, and other structures. USG ultrasound is a great machine which allows the health care professionals to see the interior of the body without having to open it up. The USG pictures are called sonograms.
Is Sonography Used for Pregnancy?
There are various uses of ultrasound some are as under-
USG pregnancy is the most sought-after use of sonography test also referred as fetal echo- it can help to decide and screen the unborn baby for any genetic disorders like down syndrome, or any defect of birth in heart, kidney, brain, spinal cord and other body organs.
- Abdominal Sonography may be done to monitor and look for any injury in the internal structures.
- It may be used in order to conduct guided biopsies
- It may also be used to sample amniotic fluid for amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling
It can detect a lot of organs problems such as-
- Heart and heart valves
- Blood vessels
- Abdominal organs, e.g., the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, or spleen
- Thyroid and parathyroid glands
- Kidneys
- Breasts
- Brain spine and hips in babies
Types of Sonography
- Endoscopic Sonography
- Doppler Sonography
- Colour doppler Sonography
- Duplex Sonography
- Triplex ultrasound (colour-flow imaging)
- Transvaginal Sonography
Procedure of Sonography
A physician who has been trained as a sonographer conducts an Ultrasound. USG may be conducted in several ways depending on the area and condition for which sonography is conducted. Most sonography involves the routine procedures as described below-
- You will be asked to remove garments from the area which has to be sonographer as you lie on the sonography table
- The sonographer will then spread a special gel on the body part’s skin that is going to be scanned
- The sonographer will be holding wand-shaped equipment known as a transducer and move the transducer over your gel-covered skin.
- The transducer sends out the sound wave signals into your body which get absorbed by the equipment.
- The gel prevents any air from reaching your skin and the device also produces sound waves which are very high pitched therefore you cannot even hear them and feel them as well.
- The sound waves bounce off your body’s internal organs. The USG machine picks out these reflections and turns them into ultrasound images on a computer. You can observe the images forming on the screen during your sonography procedure in progress.
Are There Side Effects From This Procedure?
Ultrasound is not typically linked to any illness since it’s performed by experienced personnel in the right manner. USG doesn’t include the application of ionising rays like X Ray does, and therefore it’s safer than X Ray. That is why USG is the safest and most prevalent device for viewing an unborn child during pregnancy, you need to choose the best and most reliable diagnostic center for Xrays and USG to be on safer ground still.
But in certain cases, USG may affect fluids and tissues of the body, which is why most medical professionals recommend using USG only when unavoidable in order to provide medical confirmation. Sonography charges may vary centre to centre, but you can always search for the USG centre closest to you on an online directory or you can trust the carebox to find the best imaging centre for you.
What is the Cost of Ultrasound or Sonography?
The cost of ultrasound in Delhi depends on the type of your test or what body part needs screening and also it depends on different factors of cost such as location of the centre, technology they used to detect diseases and abnormalities.
Conclusion
During pregnancy we need to monitor the growth of the baby and see whether it’s developing any abnormality so that we can determine whether any medical or surgical treatment is going to be needed once the child is born. We usually use USG as a diagnostic and preventive measure. USG can be used for other medical diagnoses, but pregnancy monitoring is most common.
FAQs
Q. What are the other names of Sonography?
USG, Sonography, Ultrasonography are other names of Ultrasound.
Q. How to get the best Imaging centre near you?
carebox can help you to find the best imaging Centre in Delhi, NCR which is NABH & NABL accredited centre, which provides Ultrasound at the lowest price. Click here to book your tests online.
Q. Can I drink water before an Sonography scan?
Yes, you can have water before an ultrasound test. Some ultrasound tests need a full bladder to see the internal structure well.
Q. Are there any risks involved in the Sonography scanning process?
No, there is no particular risk involved if all the steps and precautions followed by both the parties.
Q. How long does an Sonography scan take?
The Ultrasound takes around 15 to 30 minutes and also it depends on the type of ultrasound scan.
Q. Can Ultrasound detect cancer?
Yes, ultrasound is able to detect cancer but not in all cases, your doctor can recommend a few more imaging tests for accuracy.