Sonography (Ultrasound)

The principle of ultrasound is that ultrasound waves entering the body reflect the different tissues in varying strengths. These reflections are recorded by the device, processed, and displayed on the screen.

 Sonography is mainly used for examinations of the chest, the soft areas of the neck, the thyroid, extremities and the abdominal wall at frequencies of 5 MHz to 13 MHz. For examinations of the stomach area (the kidneys, pancreas, bladder, spleen, liver, stomach vessels), and also for examinations of the uterus in preemptive care in pregnancies, frequencies of 2 MHz to 5 MHz are used for children and 5 MHz for adults. This has a penetration of approximately 15 to 20 cm.

Ultrasound is not suitable for an examination of organs that are filled with air, such as the lungs or the gastrointestinal tract.