Reviewed by: Aaron Stewart, MD, Obstetrics & Gynecology Show
Is an Ultrasound and a Sonogram the Same Thing?Sonography is the application of ultrasound technology to diagnose medical conditions. Sonographers are trained medical technicians who perform ultrasounds, generate images of your body, and provide doctors with the images. Sonography is sometimes called ultrasonography. The terms “sonogram” and “ultrasound” are often used interchangeably. While people will generally understand what’s meant regardless of which word is used, technically they’re not synonyms. The confusion is likely a result of the usage of both terms in the description of “sonography”. What is sonography? Sonography refers to the use of ultrasound tools for diagnostic purposes. In general, an ultrasound is a procedure and a sonogram is the picture it produces. More on the difference between sonogram and ultrasound is provided below. What is an Ultrasound?An ultrasound is a simple, radiation-free, non-invasive procedure. Many people are familiar with it from its use during pregnancy to provide doctors with an image of the fetus in a mother’s womb. However, there are many other uses of an ultrasound. How Does an Ultrasound Work?An ultrasound uses sound waves to produce a picture of a structure or area inside the body, or to affect tissue in the body. There are multiple types of ultrasounds, including:
Often, an ultrasound is used on the skin surface. However, in some cases, a device is inserted into a body opening to capture a better image. Examples include:
What is an Ultrasound Used For?Ultrasounds can be used in many ways. One area where they’re useful is in diagnostics. The images captured using ultrasound technology help doctors diagnose conditions affecting soft tissues and organs. Doctors use ultrasounds to examine the following soft tissues and organs:
In medical procedures, ultrasounds can be used to help guide a doctor such as when they’re performing a needle biopsy. Ultrasounds can also be used therapeutically to help treat soft tissue injuries. What is a Sonogram?A sonogram is an image produced by an ultrasound procedure. The term sonogram loosely translates as “sound writing,” since the sound waves effectively “write” the image that’s produced. What is a Sonogram Used For?Sonograms assist doctors in evaluating organs for infections, damage, or disease. Pregnant women may get ultrasounds to generate sonograms of the fetus. Doing so allows a doctor to check a baby’s development and health. Reading a Sonogram PictureReading the sonogram from a prenatal ultrasound is easy if you know what to look for. For example, black areas generally indicate fluid, such as amniotic fluid or blood. Bright white areas indicate solid structures such as bone. In between would be shades of gray that would represent organ structures. With that in mind, identifying things like the baby’s head or legs can help you get oriented. Learn More or Get Treatment with Baptist HealthBaptist Health is committed to partnering with you on your journey to health. Learn more about our imaging and diagnostic services, mother and baby care, or women’s health services to get up-to-date information on common conditions, procedures, and treatment. Next Steps and Useful Resources Find a Provider A sonogram is the image generated during ultrasonography, which is a diagnostic imaging technique that uses ultrasound to visualize anything inside the body. Ultrasound is sound with a frequency above the range audible to humans, about 20 kHz. In common parlance, both words are used to refer to the ultrasonography procedure. Comparison chartSonogram versus Ultrasound comparison chart
What is Ultrasound and Sonogram?Ultrasound is high frequency sound, inaudible to humans (approx. 20kHz). When ultrasound waves are sent into the human body some of them bounce back when they hit tissues of differing density. The time it takes the reflected ultrasound waves to return to the machine is translated into an image of the internal organ, or of the fetus. This image is called an sonogram. UsesA sonogram of a fetus A sonogram is used by physicians to observe the growth of a fetus, to calculate their age and due date, and to see the presence of multiple fetuses. It is also used to diagnose internal problems such as pelvic bleeding, and to locate cancerous cells. Ultrasound is used to produce a sonogram. It is also used in industry to measure the purity or uniformity of liquid, to measure the depth of water, and to search for underwater objects such as submarines. Whales and dolphins use ultrasound to communicate. Uses of Ultrasound in Animal KingdomBasically humans are sight-centric species — i.e., we experience world mainly through the sense of sight. However some animals use ultrasound or sonar waves to sense their environment.
Ultrasonography being performed to check the fetal movement Whales use ultrasonic sounds in their navigational system to capture prey Urinary bladder (black butterfly-like shape) and hyperplastic prostate (BPH) visualized by Medical ultrasonography technique References
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follow us: "Sonogram vs Ultrasound." Diffen.com. Diffen LLC, n.d. Web. 11 Nov 2022. < > Does sonogram mean ultrasound?An ultrasound is an imaging test that uses sound waves to create a picture (also known as a sonogram) of organs, tissues, and other structures inside the body. Unlike x-rays, ultrasounds don't use any radiation.
Which is better ultrasound or sonography?Sonography is a medical imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of internal body structures. Sonography is also known as ultrasound. After the X-ray test, ultrasound is the most used diagnostic imaging technique.
Is there another name for ultrasound?Also known as ultrasonography or sonography, ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves that are translated into images. Most people are familiar with using ultrasound for prenatal care and to observe the fetus as it develops.
What sonogram means?A procedure that uses high-energy sound waves to look at tissues and organs inside the body. The sound waves make echoes that form pictures of the tissues and organs on a computer screen (sonogram). Ultrasound may be used to help diagnose diseases, such as cancer.
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