Diagnostic Ultrasonography
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A physician will sometimes want to gather highly detailed images of the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart. To do so, he or she may use a diagnostic test called intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). Ultrasound is a procedure that transmits high-frequency sound waves through body tissues. These sound waves create echoes that are turned into video or photographic images of the organs and internal structures in the body.
In IVUS, the ultrasound wand that transmits and receives sound waves is threaded inside of your artery. A specially trained physician called an interventional cardiologist inserts a thin, flexible tube called a catheter into the artery and feeds it to the site in the body for the test. The catheter emits sound waves from the tip and then receives the echoes. These echoes show detailed images of a section of the artery wall.
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A vascular ultrasound is used to help doctors see blockages in arteries located in the neck and legs.
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Due to the sedation, you will not be able to drive yourself home after the procedure and should arrange for someone to pick you up. Complications with EUS procedures are very rare but may include pancreatitis, gastrointestinal bleeding, and adverse reactions to the sedative medication. Infection of a pancreatic cyst after FNA is also possible, and typically antibiotics are given to reduce that risk.
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Endoscopic ultrasounds can be used to diagnose lung disease. The ultrasound machine can help doctors see lymph nodes in the chest in order to perform biopsies.
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Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is one of the most useful imaging studies for diagnosing pancreatic cancer. An outpatient procedure, it provides detailed images of the pancreas and surrounding tissues including the liver, blood vessels, and lymph nodes. EUS relies on high frequency soundwaves to create a picture of the organs. When the soundwaves bounce off of the internal organs, they send echoes to a computer which creates a visual image.
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Vascular studies are noninvasive (the skin is not pierced) procedures used to assess the blood flow in arteries and veins.
Vascular studies can utilize one of these special types of ultrasound technologies, as listed below:
- The Doppler technique is used to measure and assess the flow of blood through the blood vessels. The amount of blood pumped with each beat is an indication of the size of a vessel's opening. Also, Doppler can detect abnormal blood flow within a vessel, which can indicate a blockage caused by a blood clot, a plaque, or inflammation.
- Color Doppler is an enhanced form of Doppler ultrasound technology. With color Doppler, different colors are used to designate the direction of blood flow. This simplifies the interpretation of the Doppler technique.
- To assess blood flow in the limbs, pulse volume recordings (PVRs) may be performed. Blood pressure cuffs are inflated on the limb and blood pressure in the limb is measured using the Doppler transducer.
- To assess the carotid arteries in the neck, a carotid duplex scan may be performed. This type of Doppler examination provides a 2-dimensional (2D) image of the arteries so that the structure of the arteries and location of an occlusion can be determined, as well as the degree of blood flow.
- A carotid artery duplex scan is a type of vascular ultrasound study done to assess occlusion (blockage) or stenosis (narrowing) of the carotid arteries of the neck and/or the branches of the carotid artery. Plaque (a buildup of fatty materials), a thrombus (blood clot), and other substances in the bloodstream may cause a disturbance in the blood flow through the carotid arteries.
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Venous ultrasound is the gold standard for the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), which is a life-threatening condition but which can be treated when diagnosed. Venous ultrasound also is available to help determine the cause of varicose veins. Positioning patients and using blood pressure cuffs can help show whether venous reflux is present. Knowing the status of venous reflux assists the physician in determining appropriate treatment options.
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Some studies have shown that ultrasound can enhance cancer detection rates when used in addition to mammography. Ultrasound uses sound waves to create an image of the breast tissue. If an abnormality (such as an area of increased density) appears on a mammogram, ultrasound may be warranted for further evaluation. If a woman has a palpable mass but nothing is detected by mammography, particularly in women with dense breast tissue, ultrasound should be performed.
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Your physical therapist may use alternative therapies such as ultrasound, TENS, and PENs to help ease pain. Ultrasound uses sound waves to help soothe painful muscles and tendons. It can be used to treat acute injuries to soft tissues or to treat soft tissue pain that has become chronic. It is safe when used by an experienced person and if you find relief can be continued. Your physical therapist can decide if ultrasound may be helpful for your situation.
Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) is a technique that uses acupuncture-like needle probes positioned in the soft tissues and/or muscles to stimulate peripheral sensory nerves at appropriate levels. Some believe that PENS may be more effective than TENS or exercise therapy in patients with persistent pain.
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This technology uses high-frequency sound waves to produce precise images of the breast tissues. It allows doctors to detect the slightest abnormalities in dense breasts and helps them determine whether a lump is a cyst (sac containing fluid) or a solid mass. It can also be used to precisely locate the position of a tumor in order to guide your doctor during a biopsy or aspiration procedure. For example, in some cases, surgical oncologists will use an intraoperative ultrasound during a lumpectomy to mark out the boundaries of the tumor prior to its removal.
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