Ultrasonography, commonly called sonography, is a diagnostic medical procedure that uses high frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to produce dynamic visual images of organs, tissues, or blood flow inside the body. This type of procedure is often referred to as a sonogram or ultrasound scan. Ultrasonography can be used to examine many parts of the body, such as the abdomen, breasts, female reproductive system, superficial structures, prostate, heart, and blood vessels. Ultrasonography is increasingly being used in the detection and diagnosis of heart disease, heart attack, and vascular diseases that can lead to stroke. It is also used to guide a fine needle, for tissue biopsy and amniocentesis, and to assist in taking a sample of cells from an organ or structure for lab testing (for example, a test for cancer in breast tissue and fetal growth in uterus).

"Using Sound to See"

The non-physician professionals who perform these procedures are known as sonographers or ultrasound technologist. There are several areas of specialization in the field of ultrasound. These specialty areas are:

Abdomen, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Echocardiography, and Vascular Technology.

A diagnostic medical sonographer is a highly-skilled professional who uses specialized equipment to create images of structures inside the human body that are used by physicians to make a medical diagnosis. The process involves placing a small device called a transducer against the patient's skin near the body area to be imaged. The transducer works like a loudspeaker and microphone because it can transmit sound and receive sound. The transducer sends a stream of high frequency sound waves into the body that bounce off the structures inside. The transducer detects sound waves as they bounce off the internal structures as echoes. Different structures in the body reflect these sound waves differently. These echoes are analyzed by a computer to make a real-time image of the structure(s) on a television screen or that can be recorded on, C-D rom, film, video tape or video paper.

In addition to excellent career opportunities, salaries for sonographers are competitive with or higher than other professionals with similar levels of education. *Median annual earnings of diagnostic medical sonographers were $48,660 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $41,420 and $56,020 a year.

Salaries vary depending on years of experience, number of specialties practiced, as well as geographic location.

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-05 Edition, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos273.htm (visited June 23, 2004).

Moses Hdeib, M.D., RDMS, RDCS, RVT
Clinical Associate Professor
Program Director and Director of Graduate Studies
Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound
University of Missouri - Columbia
School of Health Professions
409 Lewis Hall
Columbia, MO 65211-4560

Telephone: 573.884.2994
E-mail:

Accreditation by CAAHEP
for general and vascular tracks.