John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.
Ultrasound (also termed sonography, ultrasonography, and Doppler study) is a
non-invasive diagnostic medical technique that uses high frequency sound waves
to produce images of the internal structures of the body. These sound waves are
not detectable by human hearing.
Using ultrasonography, a technician or doctor moves a device called a
transducer (probe) over part of your body. The transducer emits sound waves
which bounce off the internal tissues, and creates images from the waves that
bounce back. Different densities of tissues, fluid, and air inside the body
produce different images that can be interpreted by a physician, typically a
radiologist (a physician who specializes in imaging technologies). Many studies
are done by a trained technologist (sonographer) and then interpreted by a
radiologist.
Ultrasound Uses
Ultrasound can be used as a diagnostic or screening tool to confirm medical
disorders or to assist in performing medical procedures. It is also used as a
therapeutic tool in treating musculoskeletal problems, renal stones (kidney
stones), and
gallstones.
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There are a variety of uses for ultrasound. Examples include:
Diagnostic/screening uses (examples)
OB/GYN
Cardiology
Liver, kidney gallbladder
Breast
Eye
Procedure uses
Ultrasound-guided needle biopsy: uses a
guided needle to extract cells for
laboratory testing
Ultrasound-guided needle aspiration:
uses a guided needle to to extract fluid
from areas that need to be drained (for
example, abscesses, ascites)
Ultrasound-assisted intravenous access:
used when an IV line is required and veins
are difficult to access; ultrasound can be
used to assist in finding larger veins
Therapeutic uses
Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy
(ESWL): used to break up kidney stones or
gallbladder stones
High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU):
used to treat diseases or for targeted drug
therapy
