Echocardiogram vs Ultrasound
Isn’t it surprising that the two tests, echocardiography and the ultrasound, use the same technique to create images of the body’s internal structures, yet are so different? Sound waves are a common thread that unites their uniqueness in creating images.
Gauze explores their differences and similarities, which help them hold their ground.
What is Echocardiography?
The synonym for echocardiography is cardiac ultrasound, a non-invasive procedure that creates images of the heart’s structures and determines its functions.
The vibrating piezoelectric crystals create sound waves within the transducer, a handheld device that generates high-frequency sound waves. These ultrasounds travel to the inside of the body and bounce off the heart structures. The returning sound waves are then converted into images of the heart chambers, valves, and blood flow.
Understanding ultrasound
The term ultrasound encompasses a broad range of medical imaging procedures, including echocardiography. Echocardiography focuses only on the heart, while ultrasounds provide insight into the kidneys, liver, stomach, and reproductive organs.
Principle of ultrasound
Sound waves, ranging from 2 to 15 MHz, are used in medical imaging to create images of the internal body structures. Such high frequencies are not audible to the human ear but are safe and non-invasive for diagnosis.
How are ultrasound waves produced?
Ultrasound waves are generated by a transducer that contains small crystals. When an electric current is passed through these crystals, they vibrate to produce sound waves (Piezoelectric effect)
- The transducer emits sound waves into the body
- These waves bounce off tissues, organs, and fluids at different depths
- The echoes return to the transducer
- The machine then processes these echoes and turns them into real-time images on the screen.
Different frequencies for different purposes
The ultrasound machines use different frequencies depending on which part they are being used on
- 2.5 to 3.5 MHZ is used for imaging deeper structures like the abdomen or the heart
- 5.0 to 7.5 MHZ is used for superficial organs like the thyroid, breast, or joints
How ultrasound waves work inside the body
The greater the difference in the tissue density, the more sound is reflected and the less it goes inside.
If the difference in density between soft tissue and bone, or between fluid and air, is such that waves are completely reflected, they create a dark area on the image, known as an acoustic shadow. Some substances, such as blood, bile, and urine, are uniform and allow sound waves to pass through them without reflecting. These appear as black echo-free zones on the ultrasound screen.
Differences between an echocardiogram and an ultrasound
The key differences are
Reasons for doing an Echocardiography or ultrasound
An echocardiography is done when a patient complains of
- Chest pain or discomfort that feels like pressure, squeezing, or tightness
- Shortness of breath, which can occur during an activity or at rest
- Pain or discomfort radiating in the jaw, back, arms, or neck
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Cold sweats
- Fatigue
- Palpitations
- Chronic cough or wheezing
Ultrasound is done to
- Monitor pregnancy and the developing baby’s health
- Diagnose gallbladder disease
- Evaluate blood flow
- Examine a breast lump
- Guide a needle for biopsy or tumor treatment
- Check the thyroid gland, genitals, and prostate for problems
- Assess joint information
- Evaluate metabolic bone disease
When should you choose echocardiography over ultrasound?
If your healthcare provider suspects a heart problem, they recommend an echocardiogram. It provides a comprehensive view of your heart's structure and function, aiding in diagnosis.
Radiologists or sonographers do ultrasound scans, and determining cardiac health requires more. Ultrasound cannot visualize all heart structures and is less sensitive to changes in cardiac function. Both techniques are useful when used in combination.
Similarities between echocardiography and ultrasound
Ultrasound and echocardiography use technology to create images of the internal organs of the body.
Ultrasound and echocardiography are similar in that they use ultrasonic sound waves to create images using a transducer, enabling the determination of the heart's structure.
Conclusion
Depending on the patient’s needs, the tests are recommended. Ultrasound and echocardiography both serve different purposes in creating images of body organs. A heart disease requires an echocardiogram, while an ultrasound may be appropriate for other body organs.
Here to answer all your questions
Atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. It reveals blockages and clogging in arteries, which can impair the heart’s pumping ability and affect its wall motion.
Ultrasound is most useful when we intend to learn more about soft tissues such as organs, glands, and blood vessels. It also helps in guiding certain biopsy procedures.
Fasting is not required before a general ultrasound or an echocardiogram. It is usually recommended that you drink plenty of water before the test.
For certain types of ultrasound, such as pelvic scans and some abdominal ultrasounds, fasting for six to eight hours may be necessary to reduce gas and enhance image clarity.
Echocardiography is the preferred test for evaluating heart function, providing information about ventricular size, wall motion abnormalities, and valvular diseases. Ultrasound also has the advantage of being non-invasive, widely available, and inexpensive.
Ultrasound is most useful when we intend to learn more about soft tissues such as organs, glands, and blood vessels. It also helps in guiding certain biopsy procedures.
An echocardiogram is a highly specialized test that utilizes a specialized ultrasound machine to examine the structure and function of the heart.
