An ultrasound examination, also called sonography, is based on ultrasonic frequencies and is carried out to examine organs (e.g., abdominal organs, heart), joints, blood vessels and soft tissue (e.g., muscles, skin, breast).
Ultrasound examinations are basic diagnostics but also performed to answer specific medical questions and as follow-up examinations in case of known diseases. What kind of ultrasound examinations are possible, depends on the examiner´s qualification. Thus, specialists (e.g., radiology, cardiology, internal medicine, gynecology) perform ultrasound scans at Beta Klinik.
While performing an ultrasound scan, contact gel is put on the area to be examined as well as a probe, which is placed onto the skin. The latter sends ultrasound waves being reflected from the borders of different body tissues. Detected by the ultrasound device, this information is compiled leading to an image for diagnostic purposes.
Ultrasound examinations are not only essential diagnostic procedures in pediatric radiology but universally used from the unborn live previous to birth up to the adult.
Since ultrasound technology is harmless because it is based on ultrasound frequencies, it has an important advantage over an X-ray examination. This makes it possible to examine even the very sensitive un- and newborn children.
There are no reasons not to use ultrasound technology. But bones and gas-containing organs (intestine, lung) are difficult to examine. A certain degree of obesity can interfere with this examination technique since the depth ultrasound can reach is limited.
