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Page: Dangers of Ultrasonic Imaging
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The safety of ultrasound has been studied extensively. All medical procedures have beneficial consequences with risk for detrimental consequences. However, the important question is: what is the balance between the two?
Ultrasound does have bio-effects. Usually these are in some proportion to the amount of energy put into in the tissue, and high-intensity ultrasound can have the following effects:
* Cavitation: Very high negative acoustic pressures can cause temporary microscopic vacuum pockets. When these collapse, they produce very high local temperatures that can cause damage to the immediate region.
* Heat generation: Local tissue absorbs the ultrasound energy and increases their temperatures. Long-duration elevated temperatures above 41 C can damage tissue.
* Bubble formation: dissolved gases come out of the solution due to local heat increases
Heat and cavitation are the two primary known detrimental bio-effects and for this reason, the use of ultrasound is regulated by government agencies.
Ultrasonography is generally considered a "safe" imaging modality. However slight detrimental effects have been occasionally observed.
Studies on the safety of ultrasound
* A study at the Yale Medical School found a correlation between prolonged and frequent use of ultrasound and abnormal neuronal migration in mice.
* A study published in 2001 by a team working at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm found a correlation between the number of scans received by male fetuses and subsequent left-handedness.
* A meta-analysis of several ultrasonography studies was performed showing that there were no statistical significant harmful effects from ultrasonography. This however does not rule out the possibility that harmful effects are present, although they must be so small as not to show up in the sample sizes of choice in the studies. In addition, the report states in its main results that there is a lack of data with regard to long-term substantive outcomes such as neurodevelopment.
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Important notice:
The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other
qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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