When most people think of a career in ultrasound, they picture the typical scene of a pregnant woman having a wand-like device over her belly with a picture of a growing fetus; however, many are unaware of the many additional interesting options in the this field.  The field of diagnostic medical sonography is growing every year with new uses of the technology, but the most common specializations include:  abdominal sonography, obstetric and gynecological, vascular sonography, neurosonology, and cardiac sonography.

As you might guess, an abdominal sonographer specializes in the imaging of the abdominal area of both male and female patients examining organs such as the pancreas, liver, gall bladder, and kidneys.  Because this region of the body has so many important organs with a variety of functions, abdominal sonography is a world of it’s own.

Obstetric and gynecological sonography encompass the scenario I mentioned earlier in which the progress of a pregnancy is monitored, but it also encompasses the imaging of non-pregnant women to ensure the organs in their pelvic region are working properly.  These organs include the ovaries, cervix, bladder, fallopian tubes, and more.

Cardiac sonography is primarily concerned with the functioning of the heart, valve function, and pumping capacity.  When someone is experiencing chest pains, an echocardiography can reveal potential hazards and pave the way to diagnosing problems.  A related specialization is vascular sonography is used to view the flow of blood through the blood vessels and to detect any problems such as clots forming.  It is often used in conjunction with procedures such as angioplasty, which is used to reopen a blocked vessel.

Lastly, neurosonology is the use of ultrasound technology to view the brain, neck, and head region.  It is used to detect problems with the nervous system or the formation of a brain tumor.  Stroke victims are often scanned to determine the extent of any damage done.

While this is by no means a complete list of specializations within the field of ultrasound, hopefully it has familiarized you with some of the more common avenues to take.  Learn more about ultrasound career options and how to find schools offering ultrasound programs.

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