What a Pediatric Ultrasound Is
Ultrasound, also called sonography, is an exam that uses high-frequency sound waves far above the range of human hearing to obtain images of the inside of the body. Sound waves are directed at a particular area of the body. The different body tissues reflect the waves back in varying degrees. The echoed waves are recorded and displayed as a continuous real-time image on a computer monitor. Since the images are real-time, ultrasound has the benefit of allowing the radiologist to see organs in motion, such as the movement of heart valves and blood flow.
Ultrasound relies on sound waves rather than radiation to produce images, so it is ideal in many settings. This imaging technique is becoming increasingly important in the diagnosis of medical conditions in many different organs for adults and children.
Ultrasound does not require a child to stay still for long periods of time as do other imaging techniques. Consequently, sedation is rarely needed. Additionally, the equipment used for an ultrasound is much less intimidating than the large and noisy scanners used for MRI and CT.
Babies are uniquely suited for diagnosis with ultrasound due to their small size and lack of structures that can block sound waves, such as mature bones. In fact, there are ultrasound examinations that can only be performed on babies and children. Pediatric radiologists routinely use these special techniques to see the brain, spinal cord, hips and stomach in newborns and infants.
Ultrasound is particularly useful in evaluating abdominal pain in children. An abdominal ultrasound allows the pediatric radiologist to examine the liver, gallbladder, spleen, appendix, pancreas, intestines, kidneys and bladder.
Invision Sally Jobe offers pediatric ultrasound at several of our outpatient centers in the South Denver
Metro area of Colorado.