A sonographer is a healthcare professional who uses ultrasound to create images of the inside of the body. They play an important role in the early detection of health problems and abnormalities. They are similarly involved in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and pregnancy. Sonography or ultrasound has several benefits, such as allowing for accurate imaging of internal organs and structures. Ultrasound provides real-time information about the function and movement of organs as well as guiding therapeutic procedures, such as needle biopsies. Sonography is similarly used to monitor pregnancy progress and assess fetal health. On the other hand, it has a disadvantage in that when someone is exposed to high doses of ultrasound for long periods, it can lead to cancer. Sonography has more health advantages as compared to drawbacks, thus making sonographers’ demand to be higher in the medical field.
Sonographers are highly demanded when a report is needed on internal structures, organs, and tissues. Sonography is the use of ultrasound to visualize structures and organs within the body (Sakamoto et al., 2020). Ultrasound waves are sent into the body, and the reflections of these waves are used to create an image; sonography is a very accurate imaging modality. The resolution of sonographic images is related to the wavelength of the ultrasound waves used. The higher the frequency of ultrasound waves, the smaller the structures that can be resolved (Sakamoto et al., 2020). It is similarly used to image internal organs, such as the liver, kidneys, and pancreas. Additionally, it can be used to image tissues, such as breast tissue or prostate tissue. In addition, sonography can be used to measure blood flow and blood pressure in different parts of the body.
Sonography is essential in monitoring and providing information on internal organs’ movement and functionality. Ultrasound imaging, similarly known as sonography, uses high-frequency sound waves to create pictures of the inside of the body (Tanaka et al., 2018). Because ultrasound images are captured in real-time, they can show the movement of organs and other structures in the body. This makes ultrasound a valuable tool for diagnosing conditions such as liver cirrhosis, gallstones, pancreatitis, and tumors (Tanaka et al., 2018). Ultrasound is similarly used to guide procedures such as injections. Because it does not use radiation, ultrasound is a safe imaging choice for pregnant women and infants. Sonography is used for imaging pregnancy because it is a safe and non-invasive way to get images of the baby and the surrounding tissues.
Moreover, sonography uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of the baby and the uterus. It can be used to determine the baby’s sex, measure the baby’s size, and look for any problems with the baby’s development (Tanaka et al., 2018). It can similarly be used to measure the size of the uterus and check for problems with the placenta. In addition, sonography checks the position and size of the baby, the number of babies in the womb, and the measure of amniotic fluid around the baby (Tanaka et al., 2018). The ultrasound image is created when high-frequency sound waves bounce off the baby’s body and are converted into an electronic image. This image can be seen on a computer screen and can be printed out.
Ultrasound or sonography aids in guiding therapeutic procedures, including needle biopsies. Its guidance is important during a needle biopsy because it allows the clinician to see the location of the needle about the lesion (Sakamoto et al., 2020). This is especially crucial because it helps to ensure that the tissue sample is taken from the correct location and that there is minimal risk of damage to nearby healthy tissue. Ultrasound guidance can likewise be used to help guide therapeutic procedures, such as radiofrequency ablation or cryotherapy (Sakamoto et al., 2020). In these procedures, ultrasound energy is used to heat or freeze tissues. By using ultrasound guidance, the clinician can ensure that the target tissue is heated or frozen accurately and with minimal damage to surrounding tissues.
Apart from these several benefits, sonography likewise has its negative impacts, which decrease its demand. Ultrasound therapy is a popular cancer treatment; it involves the use of high-frequency sound waves to destroy cancer cells (Xie et al., 2019). However, there is some evidence that ultrasound may promote tumor growth and progression. One study found that exposure to ultrasound radiation increased the number of cancer cells and blood vessels in tumors (Xie et al., 2019). Additionally, it showed that ultrasound radiation makes tumors more resistant to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Further research is needed to determine the effects of ultrasound on tumor growth and progression. However, until more is known, it may be best to avoid exposure to ultrasound radiation if one has cancer. Ultrasound leads to dehydration by heating water molecules and causing them to vibrate, which in turn makes the water evaporate. These limitations scare people or patients from going for sonography services offered by sonographers.
In conclusion, even though sonography has negative impacts on health, sonographers’ demand is still high since they provide several essential services to people. Sonography is extremely important in modern medicine; it allows doctors to look inside the body without having to make large incisions, which can be risky and painful for patients. Sonography can be used to diagnose problems with organs, detect cancers, and even guide surgeons during complex procedures. This technology has saved countless lives and helped millions of people receive the treatment they need. Therefore, sonography is largely demanded in various healthcare scenarios despite its shortcomings.
References
Sakamoto, M., Moriyama, M., Shimizu, M., Chinju, A., Mochizuki, K., Munemura, R., Ohyama, K., Maehara, T., Ogata, K., Ohta, M., Yamauchi, M., Ishiguro, N., Matsumura, M., Ohyama, Y., Kiyoshima, T., & Nakamura, S. (2020). The diagnostic utility of submandibular gland sonography and labial salivary gland biopsy in IgG4-related dacryoadenitis and sialadenitis: Its potential application to the diagnostic criteria.Modern Rheumatology, 30(2), 379-384. Web.
Tanaka, K., Chua, J., Cincotta, R., Ballard, E. L., & Duncombe, G. (2018). Hysterosalpingo‐foam sonography (HyFoSy): Tolerability, safety and the occurrence of pregnancy post‐procedure. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 58(1), 114-118. Web.
Xie, W., Zhu, S., Yang, B., Chen, C., Chen, S., Liu, Y., Nie, X., Hao, L., Wang, Z., Sun, J., & Chang, S. (2019). The destruction of laser-induced phase-transition nanoparticles triggered by low-intensity ultrasound: An innovative modality to enhance the immunological treatment of ovarian cancer cells.International Journal of Nanomedicine, 14, 9377–9393. Web.