Questions and Answers
What is ultrasonography?
How does ultrasonography work?
Sound waves interact with tissue and reflect back to the transducer, which then processes the data through a computer.
What are the advantages of ultrasound?
Noninvasive, no radiation, accurate diagnostics, good evaluation of organs, realistic prognosis, live data, good for cardiac studies.
What are the disadvantages of ultrasound?
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What types of ultrasound equipment can be used?
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What factors determine the quality of an ultrasound?
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How do ultrasound transducers work?
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What are the differences between high and low frequency probes?
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What types of transducers are there?
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What is A-mode?
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What is B-mode?
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What is M-mode?
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What types of Doppler ultrasounds are there?
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What is gain in an ultrasound context?
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What does depth control do in ultrasound?
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What is time gain compensation?
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What is attenuation in ultrasound?
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What does scatter refer to in ultrasound?
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What is absorption in ultrasound?
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What is echogenicity?
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What does it mean if a structure is less echogenic?
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What does it mean if a structure is more echogenic?
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What is sonolucent?
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What is anechoic?
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What is hypoechoic?
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What is hyperechoic?
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What is isoechoic?
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What are artifacts in ultrasound?
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What can a liver ultrasound reveal?
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What does inflammation of the liver look like on ultrasound?
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What does a fatty liver look like on ultrasound?
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What can a gallbladder ultrasound show?
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Why would you do a scan of the liver or gallbladder?
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What are reasons for a spleen ultrasound?
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What does an inflamed spleen look like on ultrasound?
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What does decreased echogenicity indicate?
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What can a pancreas ultrasound diagnose?
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What does the GI tract ultrasound assess?
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What do kidney and adrenal gland ultrasounds look for?
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What is important for a prostate ultrasound?
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What conditions can a bladder ultrasound identify?
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What is a reproductive tract ultrasound usually used for?
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What can an eyes ultrasound detect?
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What areas do extremity ultrasounds cover in horses?
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What is fluoroscopy?
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What is Computed Tomography (CT)?
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What is nuclear scintigraphy?
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What is an MRI?
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Study Notes
Ultrasonography Overview
- Noninvasive imaging technique used to visualize organ structures without radiation exposure.
- Ideal for patients who cannot tolerate x-rays; supports diagnosis and management plans.
Mechanism
- Utilizes sound waves that interact with body tissues, sending echoes back to a transducer for image creation.
Advantages
- Offers real-time data and accurate diagnostics.
- Enhances organ evaluations, providing a more realistic prognosis, particularly useful in cardiac studies.
Disadvantages
- Initial setup can be costly; requires extensive training to master.
- Procedure often necessitates shaving the animal and has limitations with air or bone penetration.
Equipment Variants
- Available in various models: cart models, handheld, and laptops.
Quality Determinants
- Image quality relies on software, transducers, computer processors, and monitor specifications.
Transducer Functionality
- Transducers send electrical pulses and receive echoes to create imaging.
Frequency Probes
- High-frequency probes offer better detail but shallower penetration.
- Low-frequency probes allow deeper penetration but with reduced detail.
Types of Transducers
- Linear: Flat surface, prone to artifacts.
- Convex: Provides a wider view for general scans.
- Microconvex: Suitable for smaller patients, has a reduced footprint.
- Phased Array Sector: Used in cardiac studies through timed sequences.
- Matrix: Generates 3-D images, scans multiple planes simultaneously.
Patient Preparation
- Patients can be positioned laterally, ventrally, or standing.
- Requires shaving, cleaning the area, applying coupling gel, fasting, maintaining a full bladder, and removing bandages.
Modes of Ultrasound
- A-mode: One-dimensional imaging, the earliest form.
- B-mode: Two-dimensional, real-time imaging using echo dots and pixels.
- M-mode: Displays organ motion over a baseline.
Doppler Ultrasound Types
- Measures blood flow velocity; variants include color flow, power color, pulse wave, and continuous wave.
Key Technical Concepts
- Gain: Adjusts brightness settings for various tissues.
- Depth Control: Affects how much tissue is displayed in images.
- Time Gain Compensation: Alters brightness at different tissue depths.
- Attenuation: Loss of sound echoes as depth increases.
- Scatter: Sound waves may deviate direction upon hitting body surfaces.
- Absorption: Sound energy absorbed by tissues instead of being reflected.
Echogenicity
- Comparison of echogenic features between body parts.
- Terms describing echogenicity:
- Less echogenic: Darker appearance (lower echoes).
- More echogenic: Lighter appearance (higher echoes).
- Sonolucent: Dark gray, fewer echoes.
- Anechoic: Black, no echoes.
- Hypoechoic: Darker, less sound returning compared to surroundings.
- Hyperechoic: Lighter, more sound returning compared to surroundings.
- Isoechoic: No color change detected.
Artifacts
- Factors impacting ultrasound quality include hair, gel application, and environmental influences.
Specific Organ Ultrasound Applications
- Liver: Detects vascular structures and abnormalities (e.g., inflammation, fatty changes).
- Gallbladder: Assessed for fluid presence as it is not visible on x-ray.
- Spleen: Evaluated for ruptures and tumors; changes in echogenicity signal issues.
- Pancreas: Investigated for pancreatitis and masses.
- GI Tract: Examined for wall thickness and foreign bodies.
- Kidneys and Adrenal Glands: Assessed for masses and crystal presence; significant changes indicate issues.
- Prostate: Requires a full bladder for examination; looks for cysts and tumors.
- Bladder: Useful for cystos, chronic issues, and identifying masses.
- Reproductive Tract: Monitored in pregnant patients and for detecting ovarian issues.
- Eyes: Evaluated for retinal detachment or blood presence.
- Extremities: Examination focuses below carpus and tarsus in horses.
Alternative Imaging Techniques
- Fluoroscopy: Continuous radiation to observe motility or catheter placement.
- Computed Tomography (CT): Uses radiation for cross-sectional imaging, applied in scenarios involving the brain and spinal cord.
- Nuclear Scintigraphy: Injects nuclear substance to visualize activity in organs (e.g., thyroid, bones, liver).
- MRI: Non-radiative imaging using magnetic fields to read body radio frequencies.
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Test your knowledge on ultrasonography with these flashcards. Explore key concepts such as how ultrasonography works, its advantages, and its applications in noninvasive procedures. Perfect for healthcare students and professionals alike.