Ultrasound for the Anatomy of the Brain

Ultrasound used for monitoring the brain, called a cranial ultrasound, is a great tool for assisting doctors with the diagnosis of a variety or brain related issues in babies. Cranial ultrasound is not effective once the skull bones have fused, so its primary purpose is in working with babies.

However, during neurosurgery, when the skull has already been opened, cranial ultrasounds can be performed on adults, providing valuable assistance to surgeons looking for a brain mass.

Ultrasound for the Eyes

Ultrasound can be a very handy tool for doctors and ophthalmologists in taking an in-depth look at the structure of the eye. An ultrasound on the eye is performed by first numbing the eye, usually with anesthetic drops, then placing the ultrasound wand against the front surface of the eye.

The sound waves of the ultrasound create a perfect picture of the full structure of the eye. This test can show a variety of issues and complications, such as vitreous hemorrhage (bleeding into the eyeball between the retina and the lens), the presence of cancer cells in the retina, separation of the retina from the back of the eye and swelling and the presence of foreign bodies that would otherwise be undetectable.

Ultrasound of the Abdomen

Abdominal ultrasounds are useful in detecting a variety of issues in the organs of the abdominal region. These types of ultrasounds are used for diagnosing abnormalities in organs such as the kidneys, pancreas, gallbladder, liver, spleen and the abdominal aorta and various blood vessels of the abdomen.

Abdominal ultrasounds give doctors a detailed look at the condition of organs that would otherwise be unattainable without actually cutting into a patient. One of the few limitations of abdominal ultrasounds is their ineffectiveness in giving a clear picture of the bowels or organs obscured by the bowels. Ultrasound images are negatively affected by gases or air, so getting a clear picture of the bowels is unlikely.

Vascular Ultrasound

Ultrasounds performed on the vascular system provide doctors with a good look at the effectiveness of the blood flow through areas of the body. Restricted flow of blood to organs of the body can result in a number of serious issues. Using vascular ultrasound, doctors can often pinpoint areas that are being supplied with a limited amount of blood flow.

Detecting clots and blockages in the bloodstream is only one of the advantages of vascular ultrasound. The process can be utilized to determine a patient’s candidacy for certain procedures, such as angioplasty. Vascular ultrasound is also useful in detecting the presence and severity of varicose veins.

In short, vascular ultrasounds are a great tool in locating issues of the blood stream that may otherwise go undetected and lead to serious complications.

Prostate Ultrasound

Ultrasounds of the prostate is called a transrectal ultrasound, is a process used to locate potential issues or disorders within the prostate. A transrectal ultrasound can determine whether a patient’s prostate is enlarged, which then allows for the proper steps to be taken to deal with the issue.

Transrectal ultrasound also will detect any abnormal growths within the prostate. Many times, this test is run as a result of a nodule felt by a doctor during a normal prostate screening. Transrectal ultrasounds are also valuable in helping to determine possible causes of infertility in men.

What are 4D ultrasounds?

A 4D ultrasound, also known as a 4D scan or prenatal imaging, takes three-dimensional ultrasound images and adds the fourth dimension: time. When the fourth dimension is added to the still images from a 3D ultrasound, it results in live action images of the fetus. The images are then shown so rapidly that the movements of the fetus are witnessed in real time.

What is the purpose of 4D ultrasounds?

When the pregnancy reaches 26 weeks, 4D ultrasounds can capture the personality and mannerisms of the unborn child. This is extremely beneficial. Doctors can determine if there are any abnormal physical developments by the way that the baby moves. This allows doctors to diagnose Down syndrome and other conditions sooner. 4D ultrasounds also allow doctors to monitor the blood flow through the arteries and veins of the fetus, making sure that all of the organs are functioning at healthy levels. They can capture more detailed images of the fetus’ physical features, offering higher quality keepsake photos for the parents.

How does 4D differ from 3D?

4D and 3D ultrasounds both allow doctors to detect structural problems with the uterus, placental abnormalities, abnormal bleeding, ovarian tumors or fibroids, placenta location, and analyze the development of the fetus. However, 3D ultrasounds only result in still images and cannot show personality development through video-like image rendering.

Are 4D ultrasounds safe?

Some are concerned about the safety of 4D ultrasounds since the energy level may be higher in order to render a higher quality image. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is responsible for regulating the energy levels used to conduct ultrasounds and consider them to be safe overall, as it has not been proven that 4D ultrasounds require higher energy levels. However, many doctors suggest avoiding unnecessary ultrasounds, which has caused safety concerns among patients.

What impact will 4D ultrasounds have on the future of the medical industry?

Advancements in ultrasound technology can allow medical professional to diagnose abnormalities in a fetus, as well as in other patients. With 4D ultrasounds doctors can view the inner workings of the human body in real time, and use that information to prevent the development of life threatening diseases. With continuing research in ultrasound technology, it may soon be possible to safely make 4D movies of a fetus’ development in the womb. Although some businesses have already begun making these movies, the American Medical Association advises against it. Current ultrasound technology can lead to an increase in fetal temperature, which may cause abnormal environmental stress to the unborn child.

Week 6:

About halfway through the first trimester, the embryo is nearly a quarter inch in length, blood vessels are beginning to form, the heart begins to beat, and the eyes are beginning to develop. Arm and leg cells have been established, and the brain starts to expand. Though the fetus still appears quite small, many major organs have already started their development process.

Week 9:

The fetus now has defined digits on both the hands and feet, though the webbing around them has not yet receded, and cartilage has begun to form a structure for the child. The heart has essentially been completed, and the tongue and voice box have started developing. During the first nine weeks, the brain develops rapidly, and at this point brain activity can be measured.

Week 13:

Now the fetus has sextupled in size since the sixth week, measuring at about three inches in length. Bones have started to develop in place of cartilage, and facial features begin to appear. The fetus can now move around and ultrasound pictures may reveal defined external genitalia, showing the gender of the child. The child may move around and kick inside the womb.

Week 18:

The baby has now doubled in size. Its length is about six inches, and it weighs around seven ounces. Movement becomes more recognizable, and the child has a greater ability to interact with the environment outside the womb. He or she will be able to hear sounds, and will have specific rest and activity intervals. The baby may begin to cry, but without air cannot create noise.

Week 22:

The baby’s eyebrows and eyelids have now fully formed, and the baby may now react to particularly loud noises outside of the womb. The fetus has now become recognizable as a baby, but still has some growing to do.

Week 26:

The baby is over a foot long, and almost two pounds. Its hands have become active, and the child now has a definite sense of vision. It has begun to move as if breathing, but still receives all its nutrients through the umbilical cord. Mothers may be able to interact with their child through their belly wall.

Week 32:

The baby is now almost a foot and a half in length and around four pounds, and has started to develop a layer of fat beneath its skin for protection. Its finger and toenails have formed, and its head has increased to a diameter of roughly four inches. Because the baby is now so large, it has less room to move around, and will likely sleep a majority of the time.

Week 36:

At this point, the baby should be growing about half a pound a week as it develops thicker layers of fat, which makes it look chubby around its arms and neck. All organs, except the lungs, have usually reached maturity, and the kidneys and liver have started filtering waste. This is the final week before the normal birthing window.

Week 40:

The baby has likely completed fetal development and is ready for delivery. It now sits in its final birth position and, though there is very little room, will likely continue to kick until the point of birth.

Michelle, however, does work in an OBGYN’s office. Her day typically goes like this:

8:00 a.m. Michelle arrives at work and begins preparing for her first round of patients. This involves getting her machine and materials set and reviewing any necessary paperwork before the office opens.

8:35 a.m. First patient of the day arrives in Michelle’s area. Mr. and Mrs. J. are here to get a better idea of how far along Mrs. J. is in her pregnancy. Since baby-to-be is a surprise, Michelle uses baby’s measurements to determine an approximate gestational age. Knowing this age lets Mrs. J.’s doctor estimate a delivery date and ensure that baby’s development stays on track. Michelle lets Mr. and Mrs. J watch baby’s heartbeat and kids them about which of them has twins running in the family. No heart attacks, folks; there’s only one baby!

9:00 a.m. Mr. and Mrs. J head on their way, and Michelle cleans up from their appointment before making notes in Mrs. J.’s file. Baby J.’s pictures and measurements are recorded for Mrs. J.’s doctor to review later.

9:30 a.m. Michelle’s next appointment arrives. This couple is much further along in their pregnancy and is here to see if they can determine whether their baby will be a boy or a girl. Michelle applies the conducting gel (it looks like watery Vaseline, and it helps the ultrasound waves better transmit through the abdominal wall) to mom’s belly and moves the hand-held probe over the surface. Before looking for sex, Michelle takes measurements and scans important areas for any signs of abnormalities. Baby looks healthy and happy but is not in a photogenic mood! Michelle and mom do a little bit of maneuvering to see if they can encourage baby to get in the right position. After a few minutes of negotiating, baby decides to bare all — it’s a boy! Michelle prints pictures for the couple and also burns them to a CD, as they’d requested.

10:15 a.m. Michelle again makes her notes in the couple’s files and then cleans up her station to prepare for her next appointment.

10:45 a.m. Michelle’s next appointment is running late, so she uses this time to make more detailed notes, tidy up her work area and chat with some of her office mates. Some pictures of the latest delivery arrive, and Michelle helps hang them on the office bulletin board for staffers and patients to enjoy and admire.

11:00 a.m. Michelle’s previous appointment had to reschedule, so after finishing up her tasks, her next appointment gets to come back a little early. This first-time mom has been coming in weekly so her doctor can keep an eye on her amniotic fluid levels. They’ve dropped once again, and although she’s probably still not in the danger zone, her doctor will need this information to make recommendations to protect baby’s health. Michelle makes notes in her file and offers soothing comments to mom, who is understandably nervous.

12:00 p.m. Lunch.

1:00 p.m. Michelle’s afternoon is typically a repeat of her morning’s activities. Most days are filled with happy news and excited parents, but occasionally some serious problems are found through the course of a routine examine. Even though Michelle isn’t the one who has deliver bad news, these unfortunate discoveries are definitely the hardest part of her job. Fortunately, good days far outnumber the bad, and Michelle enjoys being a part of such an exciting time for so many parents.