Ultrasound, also called sonography, is the use of high-frequency sound waves and a computer to create images of blood vessels, tissues and organs. Ultrasound is used to view internal organs as they function and to assess blood flow through vessels. Ultrasound is used to examine the abdomen, breast, pelvis, prostate, scrotum, thyroid and parathyroid. Ultrasound is also used to evaluate the development of the fetus. Procedures: Doppler ultrasound - evaluates structures inside the body, while evaluating blood flow at the same time. Doppler ultrasound can determine if there are any problems within the veins and arteries vascular ultrasound - to see the vascular system and its' function, including detection of blood vessels abdominal ultrasound - to detect any abnormalities of the abdominal organs (i.e. kidneys, liver, pancreas, gallbladder) such as gallstones or tumors renal ultrasound - to examine the kidneys and urinary tract obstetrical ultrasound - to monitor the development of the fetus pelvic ultrasound - to find the cause of pelvic pain, such as an ectopic pregnancy in women, or to detect tumors or masses breast ultrasound - to examine a mass in the breast tissue thyroid ultrasound - to see the thyroid and to detect any abnormalities scrotal ultrasound - to further investigate pain in the testicles prostate ultrasound - to examine any nodules felt during a physical exam Advantages Ultrasound examination is a non-invasive imaging procedure. The ultrasound machine is a self-contained unit that doesn't require special connections. Ultrasound is useful during surgery and other diagnostic procedures because it gives doctors a precise location of internal structures. Procedure In a typical ultrasound examination, a conducting gel is applied to the skin overlying the body part to be examined. The patient then lies on an examination table or bed while the doctor or technologist passes the transducer over the area. The reflected sound waves are converted into images, which are viewed on a monitor. When a desired image appears, the operator can store the image on the hard drive of the computer and print it on traditional film. New Innovations A recent innovation in which ultrasound is combined with various endoscopic techniques allows a more precise examination of internal organs. For example, the prostate can be examined by a transducer inserted into the rectum, and the uterus and other female reproductive organs can be visualized using a transducer inserted into the vagina.