Before diving in here, let us start by explaining how the ultrasound machine has a small handheld device of different shapes called a probe or transducer. This probe will be the one to send in sound waves into the body and also receive returning echoes from your body.
Depending on how the probe is applied, there are several types of ultrasounds, and oftentimes, the choice depends on your Radiologist, Sonographer or Sonologist, the area being examined and the purpose of the test. The most common types include:
Here, the ultrasound probe is placed on the skin, over the area to be examined with a gel applied on the skin to allow for better contact, movement across the area, and easy ultrasound signal conduction. This method is used for various organs like the heart, liver, kidneys, and in pregnancy for monitoring the fetus.
In this case, the probe is inserted into a part of the body, such as the rectum (transrectal ultrasound) or vagina (transvaginal ultrasound). This method is used to obtain clearer images of internal organs, such as the prostate (in males) or the uterus and ovaries (in females).
This is similar to an internal ultrasound except that in this case, a specialized probe attached to an endoscope is guided into deeper parts of the body, such as the oesophagus, allowing detailed images of these internal areas.
Unlike the other types of ultrasounds which we have mentioned that focus on structures in your body, this type of ultrasound focuses on evaluating blood flow within the body. The knowledge of blood flow can be used to tell what kind of disease process is occurring.
