Ultrasounds provide safer and more accurate scans for women than its counterparts for various conditions.

Why Should Ultrasounds Be Used for Pelvic Exams?

Written by Ronny Bachrach on November 12, 2015. Posted in Digital Radiography and PACS, DR, Hardware

Pain in women's abdomens and pelvic areas can be caused by a variety of reasons, including endometriosis, kidney stones and ulcers. Diagnostic imaging is usually used to determine patients' conditions. However, one imaging machine stands out among the rest. Ultrasounds provide safer and more accurate scans than its counterparts for various symptoms.

Accuracy and cost-effectiveness go a long way
When women go to the doctor with pelvic pain, they will most likely get a CT scan for a first attempt at diagnosis. However, this is not the best method. In a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, researchers from the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine found that ultrasounds provide more accurate images than their alternatives. CT scans and MRIs more often than not show unclear findings so ultrasounds will be needed regardless, HealthDay explained. Ultrasounds provide accuracy where other medical imaging cannot.

CT tests are also more expensive and are limited in uses. On the other hand, ultrasounds provide inexpensive, portable scanning. By performing the latter first, doctors can eliminate the need for additional testing, which could be costly for both patients and physicians, the study's lead author and AIUM President Beryl Benacerraf, M.D., told the source.

Lack of radiation provides safer testing
According to HealthDay, 29,000 future cases of cancer could be attributed to needless CT scanning, and approximately half of those cancers are related to pelvic and abdominal exams. Medical imaging exposes patients to high levels of radiation. Patients come in contact with 10 millisieverts of radiation during CT scans, three times the amount of natural radiation the average person receives annually, the American Cancer Society explained. While this amount does not significantly increase the chances of cancer, it does add risk, which varies depending on the type of test, age and gender. The ACA suggested only using radiation testing when absolutely necessary.

The lack of radiation in ultrasounds makes them a safer option than other diagnostic imaging. AIUM's Ultrasound First initiative looks to educate patients and doctors on the benefits of the technology in all areas of medicine, not just OB/GYN, according to its website. Studies on the site serve as evidence to how ultrasounds improve health care while cutting costs and safety risks.

Utilizing ultrasounds in obstetric and gynecological medicine provides doctors with complete images during pelvic exams while doing it in an inexpensive and risk-free way. Through the use of this medical imaging, women can protect their health while not exposing themselves to any extra threats.

Ronny Bachrach

Ronny Bachrach

Marketing Director at Viztek LLC
Responsible for all marketing activities including, press, advertising, trade show coordination, website management, dealer and customer communications.
Ronny Bachrach
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