ULTRASONOGRAPHY is no less than a miracle of science. It is one of the latest inventions of modern science and technology — to be more precise of Medical science. Since its inception few decades ago it's been like a magic wand in the hands of physicians, sur-8eons and gynaecologists alike. . has made diagnosis of many diseases so easy, so rapid, so painless and so cheap that it is a boon for both doctors and patients. On top of that it has an excellent safety record.

Yet fear lurks about it in most minds Jn our country. The very word Ultrasonography still frightens many ordinary, less-educated people here. For they have never heard of this term7 before.

They think it is something alien or a fearsome new technology or something to do with radiation. On top of their personal fear for this unknown, their 'morrabbis' or seniors, their neighbours, their friends frighten them even more. So due to this fear all because of ignorance, many don’t turn up to the doctor for this vital test, thus In the process, hampering the normal investigation and treatment of their problems. Women out of ignorance and gossip are more fearful of it during pregnancy, but it is then that this test is vital to the gynaecologists. to come to the right decision best for both the mother and the baby. If one understands how it works on may learn to over come ones fear.

Nothing but high frequency sound waves is used in this procedure. No radiation or any other harmful rays. Only sound waves, which are beyond our hearing range. According to a report of American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, 'After-decades of clinical use, there, is no instance of human injury due to diagnostic Ultrasound. It has proven to be a valuable tool in medical practice and should be used without hesitation with

appropriate equipment and procedures, when medical benefit is expected.'

The principle is the same as the sound waves used by submarines to assess the depth and surface features of the ocean floor. From that the scientists got the idea of using the same in human bodies to visualise thfeir internal organs — the soft tissues. Before this the doctors had no other way of seeing the inside of an intact livingbody. X-rays don't quite give a clear picture of the soft tissues, though they are excellent for imaging the bones. They are very harmful to the unborn babies, especially in their early stage of development in the uterus. They can't give any picture of the embryo (before the

bones are formed).

Here Ultrasound comes to the doctors' rescue immensely, for it not only gives a clear picture of the embryo and foetus in the mother’s womb but also is absolutely safe, as there is no hazard of radiation, like in the X-rays. Obstetricians are not only able to find out if the embryo or foetus is viable or not. but also if it has any congenital anomaly or if the fluid, placenta. foetal position etc., are all normal or not. It helps them to make their decisions regarding treatment and delivery easily and confidently, which was difficult before this invention.

In western countries experiments are now being carried out . to operate on the foetus when still Inside its mother’s womb, if and when any treatable anomaly is detected by ultrasonography. So that at term the baby is delivered healthy, normal and alive. In female patients it helps the doctor to find out if there is any tumour in the pelvic organs like the uterus, ovaries etc. It also helps them find out the nature of the tumour, whether it is cystic (fluid filled) or solid, also if there is any other problem like preg-

nancy outside the uterus, causing the patients complaints.

Before the invention of this versatile tool there was no way to diagnose so easily and accurately. in many such cases. In Surgery and Medicine it helps in dozens of ways to come to a quick and reliable diagnosis. Not all gall bladder and kidney stones can be picked up by X-ray. but Ultrasound can pick up nearly hundred per cent of such stones. Presence, location and kind of tumour-cystic, solid or complex — all this information can be obtained by Ultrasonography cheaply and easily. Cause of Jaundice and whether medical or surgical treatment needs to be given is, also now decided on the basis of Ultrasound findings mainly. Many heart ailments can also be diagnosed by ultrasound.

Ultrasound also plays an important role in the diagnosis of breast tumours, though its use is still limited in our country for the lack of the special transducer used for this particular scan. But as it is highly sensitive and involves no hazard of radiation, it should be more widely used by doctors. So is the case with Thyroid gland scan and that of the eyeball. Both of which when scanned by Ultrasound can give much information to surgeons. To the patients who are more comfortable with modern technology, the popularity of this test lies mainly in the fact that it can detect the sex of the foetus. What a boon for them that they can actually know whether it is a boy or a girl even before it is born.

Ultrasound too has some shortcomings though, like all other medical tests. Its accuracy is very much dependent on the doctors skill and expertise. That being the reason for the discrepancy in findings from different Ultrasound centers. Another one is, it fails to scan lungs and gastro-intestinal tract as both of these organs contain gas which ultrasound is unable to penetrate. Save these , Ultrasound is one of the best of the diagnostic modalities that the doctors have had so far.

Though there are other scanning procedures now. which are .claimed to be more accurate in some cases, like CT scan and MRI. But these tests are horrendously expensive for anybody let alone for the poor people of our country, not easily available and the former one exposes the patients to radiation. So Ultrasound still is the leading and most popular test in the world of diagnostic imaging. both with the doctor and the patient. Ultrasound which enabled man to visualise for the first time the active human heart pumping away within the ribcage, the living embryo wriggling within its mother's womb and the blood coursing through the arteries and veins, is indeed a miracle of modem science and no less.