When is ultrasound used? According to Matthew, ultrasound is frequently used in obstetrics and gynecology to track baby development as well as for evaluating different medical conditions.
” It is ideal for delicate tissue review, including surveillance pregnancy, assessing abdominal tissues, detecting stones, and examining blood flow in blood vessels. It is also used for guided procedures such as biopsies”, she said.
Who isn’t suitable: Ultrasound can’t penetrate bone and won’t be able to show what lies within, according to Singhealth.
Also, it cannot pass through air, such as intestinal gas, so it may be difficult to evaluate the stomach, small, and large intestines. Body tissue weakens the sound waves the deeper they enter the body, which may limit the performance of lower body parts like the pancreas and aorta, especially if the patient is obese.
4. MAMMOGRAM
What is it: Put simply, it is a specialised X-ray of the breasts. ” It can identify abnormalities in the breast before symptoms appear, significantly improving treatment outcomes”, said Matthew.
The scan itself is actually very fast, typically a few seconds, according to Dr Lee. According to the article,” Time is needed to position the breast to get the best images, and this may take an additional 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how many additional images are required.”
” Also, as compression on the breast tissue is needed”, he highlighted, “it can be a little bit uncomfortable for the patient”.