Although the terms ultrasound and sonogram are commonly used as interchangeable, they do not mean the same thing! This is a common misconception, but comes with a very simple explanation. A medical ultrasound is the actual procedure of sending high frequency sound waves into the body to create diagnostic
images of human anatomy. A sonogram is the image that is produced from the ultrasound. To illustrate, an ultrasound is like a camera, and a sonogram is like a photograph. Most ultrasound sonograms are stored digitally and can be sent to healthcare providers electronically; however, there are still some cases where a sonogram is printed out for the patients. The most common example of this would be a printed fetal sonogram for prospective parents to keep for their memories. Ultrasounds can be performed on the entire body to assess the structure and function of organs and vessels. This means there can be sonograms of the liver, heart, gallbladder, pancreas, and the kidneys; but those images aren’t typically as exciting as a developing fetus and are not printed. These images will be stored electronically and in a safe manner. The next time your doctor orders you an ultrasound or you hear the term sonogram used in conversation, you’ll know the difference! To learn more about ultrasounds and sonograms, contact https://www.cure.edu If you have any medical questions or concerns, please talk to your healthcare provider. The articles on Health Guide are underpinned by peer-reviewed research and information drawn from medical societies and governmental agencies. However, they are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It’s common to hear “sonogram” and “ultrasound” thrown around together. If you’re wondering how they’re different—sonogram vs ultrasound—you’re not alone. The truth is that “sonogram” and “ultrasound” are closely related terms that both have to do with the same form of medical imaging technology. In many cases, people use them interchangeably. But technically, they’re not quite the same. Get proactive about your body Modern Fertility’s suite of products helps support you with your reproductive health—all from the comfort of your home. Learn more Sonography is a form of medical imaging that uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of the insides of the human body. These images are called sonograms. On the other hand, ultrasound is the name for the high-frequency sound waves that are used to make the sonogram. In other words, ultrasound is the tool used during sonography (NIBIB, 2016). If that’s confusing, think of a sonogram as a photograph. The ultrasound would be the camera that’s used to take the photograph. Highly trained healthcare professionals who perform sonography are called sonographers or ultrasound technicians. At-home chlamydia tests: are they right for you?Chlamydia Last updated: May 21, 2021 7 min read Sonography is one of the most common types of diagnostic imaging and is often used to look at soft tissues and other non-bony parts of the body (NIBIB, 2016). In some cases, a sonographer is specially trained to look at specific parts of the body. Some examples include:
Ultrasound technology uses high-frequency sound waves to make real-time images (sonograms) of the inside of your body (NIBIB, 2016). If you’ve ever had an ultrasound, you may remember that it involves a handheld device that looks a lot like a grocery store checkout scanner. That’s called a transducer. It sends out sound waves, and it can also detect the echoes of those sound waves when they bounce (harmlessly) off of tissues and other barriers inside your body. During an ultrasound procedure, a sonographer (a.k.a., ultrasound technician) will put gel on the part of your body that is going to be imaged. This is to keep any air bubbles or pockets from screwing up the transducer’s reception. As the transducer moves over your skin, the ultrasound equipment will turn the sound waves into images (Kurzweil, 2021). There are two different types of ultrasound. These are (NIBIB, 2016):
Is there a test for schizophrenia?Sonography and the ultrasound technology it uses are very common in medical settings. Some of the typical uses for sonography are (NIBIB, 2016):
Sonographers can use ultrasound scans to identify a lot of different medical problems or abnormalities. These include (Zimmerman, 2021):
Pros and cons of ultrasound imagingUsing ultrasound to make sonographic images is safe, affordable, and simple. It’s also typically a non-invasive procedure, meaning nothing goes inside your body. You usually don’t have to do anything to prepare for an ultrasound, and it creates images of your insides in real-time (SDMS, n.d.; NIBIB, 2016). But there are some drawbacks. Ultrasound images don’t have the same level of specificity as some other types of medical imaging. Research has found that misdiagnoses can happen when doctors rely solely on ultrasound (Sotiriadis, 2019; Levine, 2001). Prostate health: 6 ways to keep your prostate healthyProstate Last updated: May 10, 2021 7 min read Also, the images that ultrasound produces depend on the skill and experience of the ultrasound tech who uses it. This opens up some room for human error (Reddy, 2009). It’s easy to confuse the terms “sonogram” and “ultrasound.” Even some doctors use them interchangeably. If you want to be precise, just remember that the ultrasound is the technology used to make an image, while the image itself is called a sonogram.
Are Sonograms the same as ultrasounds?A sonogram is an image produced by an ultrasound. In other words, it's not the procedure itself but the product. For example, many parents can recall the thrilling moment they saw their baby on the ultrasound monitor and were then given the printed sonogram to take home.
What are the 3 types of ultrasounds?Types of Ultrasound. Endoscopic ultrasound.. Doppler ultrasound.. Color Doppler.. Duplex ultrasound.. Triplex ultrasound (color-flow imaging). Transvaginal ultrasound.. What is a sonogram used for?Diagnostic ultrasound, also called sonography or diagnostic medical sonography, is an imaging method that uses sound waves to produce images of structures within your body. The images can provide valuable information for diagnosing and directing treatment for a variety of diseases and conditions.
Does sonography mean ultrasound?Ultrasound (also called sonography or ultrasonography) is a noninvasive imaging test. An ultrasound picture is called a sonogram. Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create real-time pictures or video of internal organs or other soft tissues, such as blood vessels.
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