Ultrasound Flashcards
1
Q
How does ultrasound work?
A
- uses sound waves with frequencies 1-20 MHz
- images created by interpreting sound reflections
- images composed of a mosaic of white and grey dots which represent an echo of a structure
2
Q
What are the benefits of ultrasound? (8)
A
- non ionising
- mobile equipment
- quick and cost effective
- well tolerated by patients
- good soft tissue information
- real time
- accurate measurement of structures
- can carry out blood studies (ensure needle is in correct spot)
3
Q
What are the cons of ultrasound? (4)
A
- many areas not suitable to image (bone, lung, abdominal structures covered by bowel)
- hand held transducer results in scan plane variablilty and hard to reproduce same scan plane
- high operator dependent
- diffifult image interpretation
4
Q
What is the transverse plane?
A
- divides the body sup and inf
- transducer at ant of body
5
Q
What is the sagittal plane?
A
- divides body left and right
- midsagittal on midline
- para-sagittal slightly of midline
- image always viewed with patient head to left of screen
6
Q
What is the coronal plane?
A
- divides the body ant and post
- transducer on the lateral aspect of patient in lonitudinal plane
- ultraosund beam only go through half of patient so the inf of the image is medial
7
Q
What is the viewing of a transverse image?
A
- ant and post
- left and right
8
Q
What is the viewing of a sagittal image?
A
- ant and post
- sup and inf (sup on left, inf on right)
9
Q
What is the viewing of a coronal image?
A
- lat and medial (lat on ant, medial on post)
- sup and inf (sup on left, inf on right)
10
Q
What is echogenicity?
A
- described how bright the tissue is (e.g. how intense the echoes are)
11
Q
Define anechoic
A
- area that has no echoes (black)
- e.g. fluid (blood and urine)
12
Q
Define hypoechnoic
A
- area where the echo intensity is low (dark)
- e.g.
13
Q
Deinfe Echogenic
A
- area where the echo is more intense (bright)
- e.g. bone, gas, calcification
14
Q
What is echotexture?
A
- describes the pattern of echoes
15
Q
What are the 4 main types of echotexture?
A
- fine
- coarse
- homogeneous
- heterogeneous
16
Q
What is an acoustic window?
A
- structure or anatomical configuration that allows deeper anatomy ro be visualed
- causes little beam attenuation