Abdominal Anatomy
Liver | Gallbladder | Pancreas | Spleen | Kidneys | Aorta
Obstetric And Gynecologic Anatomy
Uterus | Ovaries | Placenta | Fetus | Amniotic Fluid
Vascular Anatomy
Carotid Arteries | Peripheral Arteries And Veins | Deep Venous System | Portal Venous System
Musculoskeletal And Superficial Anatomy
Tendons | Ligaments | Muscles | Joints | Thyroid | Breast
RUQ LUQ And Aorta
Fasting Recommended For Gallbladder | Evaluate Liver Echotexture Biliary Ducts Pancreas And Kidneys | Include Aortic Measurement For AAA Screening
First Second And Third Trimester
Confirm Viability And Gestational Age | Anatomy Survey At 18–22 Weeks | Growth And Doppler Studies In Third Trimester
Transabdominal And Transvaginal
Transabdominal For Global Survey | Transvaginal For Endometrial And Ovarian Detail | Full Bladder May Be Required For TA Views
Carotid And Peripheral Studies
Use B Mode Color Doppler And Spectral Doppler | Measure Peak Systolic Velocities And Ratios | Evaluate For Stenosis Thrombosis And Reflux
Tendon Ligament And Joint Evaluation
High Frequency Linear Probe | Dynamic Maneuvers To Assess Tendon Subluxation And Impingement | Compare With Contralateral Side
Nodule Characterization
High Resolution Imaging For Nodule Size Echogenicity And Vascularity | Guide Fine Needle Aspiration When Indicated
Targeted And Whole Breast
Targeted For Palpable Masses Or Mammographic Findings | Use Radial And Antiradial Scanning For Lesion Localization
Flow Visualization
Shows Direction And Distribution Of Flow | Adjust Color Scale And Gain To Avoid Blooming | Use For Vessel Patency And Vascular Lesions
Quantitative Velocities
Measure Peak Systolic And End Diastolic Velocities | Use Angle Correction For Accurate Velocity Measurement | Calculate Ratios For Stenosis Assessment
Low Flow Sensitivity
More Sensitive For Low Volume Flow | Useful In Small Vessels And Inflammatory Hyperemia | Not Directional
Real Time Needle Visualization
Use Sterile Technique | Visualize Needle Path In Plane Or Out Of Plane | Confirm Target Sampling And Post Procedure Hemostasis
Abscess And Fluid Collections
Real Time Guidance For Catheter Placement | Use Color Doppler To Avoid Vessels | Confirm Drainage And Position
PICC And Central Lines
Ultrasound Guided Venous Puncture Reduces Complications | Visualize Needle And Guidewire | Confirm Tip Position With Fluoro Or Chest Radiograph As Required
Fasting Hydration And Bladder Status
Fasting For Abdominal Studies | Full Bladder For Pelvic Exams | Remove Jewelry And Clothing Over Exam Area | Explain Procedure To Reduce Motion
Frequency And Field Of View
Use Low Frequency Curvilinear For Deep Abdominal Imaging | High Frequency Linear For Superficial Structures | Endocavitary Probes For Transvaginal And Transrectal Exams
Common Artifacts And Solutions
Recognize Shadowing Enhancement Reverberation And Mirror Image Artifacts | Adjust Gain Focus And Probe Angle To Improve Visualization
Gain Depth And Focus
Optimize Depth And Focus For Target Anatomy | Use Appropriate Presets And Save Representative Images And Clips | Document Measurements And Doppler Waveforms
Findings And Recommendations
Include Exam Indication Technique And Key Measurements | Correlate With Prior Imaging And Recommend Further Imaging Or Biopsy When Indicated
No Ionizing Radiation
Ultrasound Uses Sound Waves And Has No Ionizing Radiation | Avoid Excessive Thermal Or Mechanical Index In Fetal Imaging | Follow Manufacturer Guidelines For Output Limits
Operator Dependence And Acoustic Window
Image Quality Depends On Operator Skill And Patient Body Habitus | Gas And Bone Limit Penetration | Use Complementary Modalities When Necessary
B Mode
Brightness Mode | Real Time Gray Scale Imaging
Doppler
Color Power And Spectral Techniques For Flow Assessment
TI MI
Thermal Index And Mechanical Index | Indicators Of Bioeffect Risk | Keep As Low As Reasonably Achievable
Endocavitary
Transvaginal Or Transrectal Probes For Close Proximity Imaging
Acoustic Window
Pathway For Ultrasound Transmission | Optimized By Patient Positioning And Probe Selection