Ultrasound
What are the benefits vs. risks?
Benefits:
Most ultrasound scanning is noninvasive (no needles or injections).Occasionally, an ultrasound exam may be temporarily uncomfortable, but it should not be painful.Ultrasound is widely available, easy to use, and less expensive than most other imaging methods.Ultrasound imaging is extremely safe and does not use radiation.Ultrasound scanning gives a clear picture of soft tissues that do not show up well on x-ray images.Ultrasound is the preferred imaging modality for the diagnosis and monitoring of pregnant women and their unborn babies.Ultrasound provides real-time imaging. This makes it a good tool for guiding minimally invasive procedures such as needle biopsies and fluid aspiration.
Risks:
Standard diagnostic ultrasound has no known harmful effects on humans.