Ultrasonogrpahy

Question 1

What is ultrasonography?

Answer 1

-uses very high frequency sound waves that are pulse into the body
-returning echoes are analysed by a computer and displayed on the screen for interpretation
-non invasive procedure

Question 2

What type of image does ultrasonography produce?

Answer 2

-provide a cross sectional image of organs, tissues and blood action with tissues

Question 3

Patient preparation required for ultrasonography?

Answer 3

Patient can be conscious
Manual restraint required
Hair must be clipped during procedure

Question 4

Low frequency versus high frequency ultrasonography?

Answer 4

High frequency = better image quality, unable to penetrate further into the body

Low frequency = lower image quality, able to penetrate further into the body

Question 5

Advantages of using ultrasonography?

Answer 5

-differentiates soft tissues from fluid
-visualisation of internal architecture of soft tissues
-real time of moving picture
-can visualise organ function
-can carry out guided biopsies or fine needle aspirates

Question 6

Disadvantages of using ultrasonography?

Answer 6

-inability to penetrate bone or air, cannot be used for lungs or skeleton
-difficult technique
-not suitable for remote interpretation, frozen images lose their value
-interpretation relies on operators coordination

Question 7

What are the common uses for ultrasonography?

Answer 7

Pregnancy
Organ function
Check for free fluid
Used to diagnose many illnesses
Evaluate joint cavities

Question 8

What equipment is required for ultrasonography?

Answer 8

Control panel
Gl
Transducer
Printer

Question 9

What does the control panel do?

Answer 9

-allows changes to quality of image
-intensity of sound in transducer controlled
-adjusts amplification of returning echoes
-can input patient details
-has freeze button

Question 10

Why is gel required?

Answer 10

-better contact between patient skin and transducer
-helps in transmission of sound waves from transducer
-allows sound waves to pass through it easily

Question 11

What are array transducers?

Answer 11

-crystal elements are arranged in a line along the surface of the transducer
-provides wise superficial field of view
-requires large contact area between skin ans transducer

Question 12

When are array transducers used?

Answer 12

Musculoskeletal system
Abdominal organs
Eyes
(Cannot see deeper structure)

Question 13

What are phased array transducers?

Answer 13

-contains a small number of roof crystals that are fixed in position and create a fan type image
-allows visualisation of deep structures due to wide field of view
-have poorer nearer field resolution

Question 14

When are passed array transducers used?

Answer 14

Deeply located structures of abdomen and thoracic cavity

Question 15

Image production poster?

Question 16

Patient preparation prior to the procedure?

Answer 16

-food withheld for 12 hrs
-allow to defecate prior
-urination only if not evaluating the bladder
-can be assessed conscious

Question 17

Patient preparation of the scanning site?

Answer 17

-hair remove to ensure good transducer to skin contact
-coupling gel applied to skin
-manual restraint

-echocardiograms, patient placed on special table with hole cut out

Question 18

Care of ultrasonography machine?

Answer 18

-serviced annually
-check for damage before use
-wipe down transducer after each patient
-wipe down machine after every use

Question 19

Biopsy and Fine needle aspiration during ultrasound?

Answer 19

-allows small biopsies of diseased areas within organs

-needle tip can be visualised on ultrasound, ease of direction without damage to surrounding organs
-can be performed conscious

Question 20

Different modes for ultrasonography?

Answer 20

A mode
B mode
M mode
Colour Doppler mode

Question 21

What is the A mode?

Answer 21

-a one dimensional image
-not commonly used for diagnosis

Question 22

What is the B mode?

Answer 22

Displays static image of a section of tissue

Increased amplitude

Question 23

What is the M mode?

Answer 23

Displays moving structures over time

Allows evaluation of moving structures

Question 24

What is the colour Doppler mode?

Answer 24

Provides a map of flow superimposed over an organ of structure

Colour is shown depending on the change in the returned ultrasound wave frequency