Ultrasound
Also known as: sonography, USG
A safe scan that uses sound waves to create real-time pictures of organs and lumps.
Definition
Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves — not radiation — to produce real-time images of organs, blood vessels and lumps. It is safe, painless, widely available and especially good for examining the breast, thyroid, abdomen, pelvis, testes, neck and superficial lymph nodes.
In oncology, ultrasound is often the first imaging test for a palpable lump, and it is routinely used to guide needle biopsies and FNAC so that the sample is taken from exactly the right spot. It complements other imaging modalities such as CT, MRI and PET-CT.
See also
- CT Scan — A detailed X-ray scan that builds cross-sectional images of the body.
- MRI — A scan that uses magnetic fields to produce detailed images of soft tissues.
- PET-CT — A combined scan that shows both the structure and the metabolic activity of tissues.
- Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) — A quick test that uses a thin needle to draw cells from a lump for microscopic examination.
- Biopsy — A small sample of tissue taken from the body and examined under a microscope.
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Medically reviewed by
Dr. Rehan Abdullah
Dr. Rehan Abdullah is a dual-trained clinical and radiation oncologist with over a decade of experience treating both solid tumours and hematologic malignancies. He serves as Consultant Oncologist at INMOL Hospital and sees patients at Farooq Hospital and Healthnox Medical Center, Lahore. Read full profile →
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