It's Medical Monday
- Samantha Colon
- May 13, 2024
- 2 min read
Good morning Aortic Hope family! I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day weekend. This week we're going to continue our medical imaging series by learning about ultrasounds.
What is it and why is it used?
Ultrasound is the most common test that provides a non-invasive and quick image by using high-frequency sound waves. This allows physicians to visualize the structure and any abnormalities in the aorta, such as aneurysms or dissections. This diagnostic tool is typically used in initial screening and monitoring due to its availability and rapidity in producing an image.
Who should get an ultrasound?
Ultrasounds are typically used to view abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Men who smoke are at a significantly greater risk of developing an AAA, so physicians follow a set of screening guidelines.
Men ages 65 to 70 who have ever smoked a cigarette should be screened using an ultrasound.
Men ages 65 to 70 who have never smoked may still be screened due to other risk factors.
As of now, there are no AAA screening guidelines for women.
While ultrasound allows for prompt diagnosis without ionizing radiation, its effectiveness may be limited in patients with excessive bowel gas or obese patients. These situations can affect image quality.
Are there any risk factors?
According to the FDA, ultrasound has an excellent safety record. It does not use radiation, so it's safer to use than X-rays or computed tomography (CT) scans.
Although ultrasounds are considered safe, they can produce some effects on the body. Ultrasound waves can heat tissues and may produce small pockets of gas in tissues or fluids. However, these effects are not common.
Please remember to discuss with your doctor about any questions or concerns you may have.
Thanks for joining us for this week's Medical Monday. Join me again in 2 weeks for the next Medical Monday blog post. Have a great weekend, and Think Aorta.
Samantha
Excellent information.
Thsnk You! 🙂