Ultrasound

Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to evaluate organs in the body and commonly to examine fetal development. Detailed images are returned in real time, making ultrasound particularly helpful for guiding minimally invasive procedures—such as needle biopsies—and for visualizing organ, blood vessel and tissue movement.

Ultrasound imaging uses high-frequency sound waves instead of ionizing radiation (X-ray) to get an image of the inside of the body. The reflected sound wave echoes are recorded and displayed as a real-time visual image.

Millions of expectant parents see the first picture of their unborn child with ultrasound. Because ultrasound provides real-time images, it can also be used to guide procedures such as needle biopsies, in which a needle is used to sample cells from an organ for laboratory testing.

Ultrasound can also be used to diagnose a variety of heart conditions and to assess damage after a heart attack.