Eating for two

Additional Reasons You Need an Ultrasound Besides Pregnancy

31 July 2019

Louis Stone

A majority of people assume that the only reason a person will need an ultrasound is when they are pregnant, which implies that only women receive this type of medical imaging. The reality is that numerous other scenarios that would warrant an ultrasound so this technology is not limited to obstetricians. An ultrasound is simply a diagnostic tool that produces soundwaves with the intent of creating an image of the internal parts of the body. Therefore, you may need an ultrasound for a myriad of other body parts depending on what is ailing you. This piece illuminates additional reasons why you would need an ultrasound excluding pregnancy.

An ultrasound for the assessment of your internal organs

As mentioned above, ultrasounds function by producing sound waves that penetrate the skin to map out what lies underneath. Therefore, if your physician needs to take a closer look at the functioning of certain organs of your body, they will use an ultrasound to get a closer look. For instance, if you have been diagnosed with breast cancer and are undergoing treatment, your doctor will use an ultrasound to monitor the tumour and check if it is growing or diminishing. On the other hand, if you have suffered a joint injury, the doctor can use an ultrasound to check the extent of the damage and inflammation of the site. You could also receive a vascular ultrasound or an ultrasound on the pancreas, liver, kidneys and so on.

An ultrasound to guide non-invasive surgery

Non-invasive surgery does not entail the opening up of your body the way the traditional option does. However, since the surgeon does not have a clear view of your internal organs, the surgery needs to be guided via ultrasound so that the surgeon can navigate their tools correctly. This type of ultrasound is usually carried out during the biopsies of tumours.

An ultrasound to monitor the recovery of an injury

While ultrasounds are commonly carried out for diagnostic purposes, they are also beneficial when it comes to monitoring your progress after suffering a musculoskeletal injury. Conditions such as tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and even sprains can help your doctor assess how the treatment is going and if you are healing. When it comes to injury recovery, two main types of ultrasounds can be carried out. The first is the standard option that produces sound waves at a specific rate, which helps in the reduction of inflammation and pain. The second option is thermal ultrasounds that involve the penetration of sound waves directly to the tissue in an attempt to stimulate the regeneration of cells, which facilitates faster healing.

For more information on ultrasound, contact a medical centre.

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