Diagnostic imaging embraces several procedures that aid in diagnosing ailments. Besides the familiar x-ray, another common diagnostic imaging method is ultrasound. Sonography, or ultrasonography, is the use of sound waves to generate an image for the assessement and diagnosis of various medical conditions. Sonographers use special equipment to direct nonionizing, high frequency sound waves into areas of the patient's body. The equipment collects reflected echoes and forms an image that may be videotapped, photographed, or transmitted for interpretation and diagnosis by a physician.
Many people associate sonography with obstetrics and the viewing of the fetus in the womb, but this technology has many other applications in the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions throughout the body. Diagnostic medical sonographers may specialize in obstetric and gynecologic sonography (the female productive system), abdominal sonography (the liver, kidneys, gallbladder, spleen, and pancreas), neurosonography (the brain), or breast sonography. In addition, sonographers may specialize in vascular sonography/technology or cardiac sonography also known as echocardiography.
Obstetric and gynecologic sonographers specialize in the imaging of the female reproductive system. Included in the discipline is examining the fetus of a pregnant woman to track the body's growth and health.
Abdominal sonographers inspect a patient's abdominal cavity to help diagnose and treat conditions primarily involving the gallbladder, bile ducts, kidneys, liver, pancreas, spleen, and male reproductive system. Abdominal sonographers are also able to scan parts of the chest, although studies of the heart using sonography is usually done by echocardiographers (which is going to be my specialty).
Neuorsonographers focus on the nervous system, including the brain. In neonatal care, neurosonographers study and diagnose neurological and nervous system disorders in premature infants. They may also scan blood vessels to check for abnormalities indicating a stroke in infants diagnosed with sickle-cell anemia. Like other sonographers, neurosonographers operate transducers to perform sonogram, but use frequencies and beam shapes different from those used by obstetric and abdominal sonographers.
Breast sonographers use sonography to study diseases of the breasts. Sonography aids mammography in the detection of breast cancer. Breast sonography can also track tumors, blood supply conditions, and assist inthe accurate biospy of breast tissue. Breast sonographers use high-frequency transducers, made exclusively to study breast tissue.
Viewing the screen during the scan, sonographers look for subtle visual cues that contrast healthy areas with unhealthy ones. They decide whether the images are satisfactory for diagnostic purposes and select which ones to show to the physician.
The nature of their work can put sonographers at risk for musculoskeletal disorders such as carpel tunnel syndrome, neck and back strain, and eye strain: however, greater use of erogonmic equipment and an increasing awareness will continue to minimize such risks.
There are several avenues for entry into the field of diagnostic medical sonography. Sonographers may train in hospitals, vocational-technical institutons, colleges and universities, and the Armed Forces. Some training programs prefer applicants with a background in science or experience in other health care professions. College and universities offer 2- and 4-year programs. Course work includes classes in anatomy, physiology, instrumentation, basic physics, patient care, and medical ethics. Although not generally accredited, a few 1-year programs that may result in a certificate are also accepted as proper education by employers. These programs are typically for workers already in health care seeking to increase their marketability by training in sonography.
Sonographers specializing in one particular discipline often seek competency in others. For example, obstetric sonographers might seek training in abdominal sonography to broaden their opportunities and increast their marketability.
No state requires licensure in diagnostic medical sonography but organizations such as the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) certify the skills and knowledge of sonographers through credentialing, including registration. Registration with ARDMS requires passing a general physical principles and instrumentation examination, in addition to passing an exam in a specialty.
Opportunties for employment are very favorable because sonography is becoming an increasingly attractive alternative to radiologic procedures, as patients seek safer treatment methods. Sonography does not involve radiation, so harmful side effects and complications from repeated use are less likely for both the patient and the sonographer. According to Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment growth is expected to be faster than average. Median annual earnings of diagnostic medical sonographers were $57,160 in May 2006. Sonographers held about 46,000 jobs in 2006. More than half of all jobs were in public or private hospitals. The rest were in offices of physicians, medical and diagnostic laboratories, and mobile imaging services.
Many people associate sonography with obstetrics and the viewing of the fetus in the womb, but this technology has many other applications in the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions throughout the body. Diagnostic medical sonographers may specialize in obstetric and gynecologic sonography (the female productive system), abdominal sonography (the liver, kidneys, gallbladder, spleen, and pancreas), neurosonography (the brain), or breast sonography. In addition, sonographers may specialize in vascular sonography/technology or cardiac sonography also known as echocardiography.
Obstetric and gynecologic sonographers specialize in the imaging of the female reproductive system. Included in the discipline is examining the fetus of a pregnant woman to track the body's growth and health.
Abdominal sonographers inspect a patient's abdominal cavity to help diagnose and treat conditions primarily involving the gallbladder, bile ducts, kidneys, liver, pancreas, spleen, and male reproductive system. Abdominal sonographers are also able to scan parts of the chest, although studies of the heart using sonography is usually done by echocardiographers (which is going to be my specialty).
Neuorsonographers focus on the nervous system, including the brain. In neonatal care, neurosonographers study and diagnose neurological and nervous system disorders in premature infants. They may also scan blood vessels to check for abnormalities indicating a stroke in infants diagnosed with sickle-cell anemia. Like other sonographers, neurosonographers operate transducers to perform sonogram, but use frequencies and beam shapes different from those used by obstetric and abdominal sonographers.
Breast sonographers use sonography to study diseases of the breasts. Sonography aids mammography in the detection of breast cancer. Breast sonography can also track tumors, blood supply conditions, and assist inthe accurate biospy of breast tissue. Breast sonographers use high-frequency transducers, made exclusively to study breast tissue.
Viewing the screen during the scan, sonographers look for subtle visual cues that contrast healthy areas with unhealthy ones. They decide whether the images are satisfactory for diagnostic purposes and select which ones to show to the physician.
The nature of their work can put sonographers at risk for musculoskeletal disorders such as carpel tunnel syndrome, neck and back strain, and eye strain: however, greater use of erogonmic equipment and an increasing awareness will continue to minimize such risks.
There are several avenues for entry into the field of diagnostic medical sonography. Sonographers may train in hospitals, vocational-technical institutons, colleges and universities, and the Armed Forces. Some training programs prefer applicants with a background in science or experience in other health care professions. College and universities offer 2- and 4-year programs. Course work includes classes in anatomy, physiology, instrumentation, basic physics, patient care, and medical ethics. Although not generally accredited, a few 1-year programs that may result in a certificate are also accepted as proper education by employers. These programs are typically for workers already in health care seeking to increase their marketability by training in sonography.
Sonographers specializing in one particular discipline often seek competency in others. For example, obstetric sonographers might seek training in abdominal sonography to broaden their opportunities and increast their marketability.
No state requires licensure in diagnostic medical sonography but organizations such as the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) certify the skills and knowledge of sonographers through credentialing, including registration. Registration with ARDMS requires passing a general physical principles and instrumentation examination, in addition to passing an exam in a specialty.
Opportunties for employment are very favorable because sonography is becoming an increasingly attractive alternative to radiologic procedures, as patients seek safer treatment methods. Sonography does not involve radiation, so harmful side effects and complications from repeated use are less likely for both the patient and the sonographer. According to Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment growth is expected to be faster than average. Median annual earnings of diagnostic medical sonographers were $57,160 in May 2006. Sonographers held about 46,000 jobs in 2006. More than half of all jobs were in public or private hospitals. The rest were in offices of physicians, medical and diagnostic laboratories, and mobile imaging services.
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