Although Ultrasound cannot be heard it is a high frequency sound that can be emitted and detected by special machines. When parts of your body are exposed to high-frequency sound waves to produce pictures of the inside of the body it is called ultrasound imaging, ultrasound scanning or sonography. Ultrasound examinations do not use ionizing radiation (as used in x-rays). Ultrasound images can show the construction and movement of the body’s internal organs, as well as blood flowing through blood vessels since ultrasound images are captured in real-time.

Ultrasound scans are images of the internal organs created from sound waves. The images are made when the sound waves are directed into the body then reflected back to a scanner that measures them. The ultrasound scanner looks like a little paint roller. It sends sound waves through the skin and muscles as it moves back and forth over the body. These waves then appear on a TV screen as an image. The scan can also be copied onto X-ray film or paper.

The way the ultrasound scan is performed depends on the purpose of the test. The scanner can be used through the natural openings of the body, such as the mouth or vagina or externally on the skin.

The way the ultrasound bounces back from different tissues can help to determine the size, shape and consistency of structures, organs and abnormalities. Sonography which produces pictures of fetuses in the human womb is probably the most well-known application of ultrasound. There are a huge number of other applications as well.

It can discover abnormalities of heart structures such as the heart valves. (An ultrasound scan of the heart is called an echocardiogram.) It can help to diagnose problems of the liver, gallbladder (such as gallstones), pancreas, thyroid gland, lymph nodes, ovaries, testes, kidneys, bladder and breast. E.g. it can help to determine if an abnormal lump in one of these organs is a solid tumor or a fluid-filled cyst.

Ultrasound scans are painless and safe. Unlike X-rays and other imaging tests, ultrasound does not use radiation. It has not been found to cause any complications or problems.

Conventional ultrasound displays the images in thin, flat sections of the body. Ultrasound technological advancements include three-dimensional (3-D) ultrasound that formats the sound wave data into 3-D images. 3-D ultrasound in motion is called Four-dimensional (4-D) ultrasound.

A 2D ultrasound scan is routine for pregnant women as it can help to monitor the growth of an unborn child, and check for abnormalities. 3D and 4D scans are not currently available as part of a routine scan through the NHS.

4D Ultrasound scans are a way of getting real-time moving images of your baby whilst still in your womb. They are carried out on special 4D Ultrasound Machines. You can have a 4d ultrasound scan done from week 26 of your pregnancy. As your baby is fully developed and is moving around freely in your womb, most 4d scans are completed between weeks 26-32. Usually after 32 weeks your baby’s movements are more restricted due to its size and you may not get the best images. Choosing a clinic for your 4d ultrasound scan is an important part of the pregnancy process.

For extra information on 4D ultrasound, to view our gallery of 4D images or to take advantage of our special offers, please visit our website at www.4Dbabyimages.co.uk.

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