Since their invention in the late 1950’s, ultrasound systems have offered clinicians a non-invasive method to visualize the inside of the body. Standard 2D ultrasound aids gynaecologists by using high frequency sound waves to create images of the pelvic anatomy, including the ovaries, uterus and surrounding tissue.

Benefits of the 3D ultrasound technology for your clinic are even greater. This technology promises to advance patient care by improving the gynaecologist’s ability to make clear and informed decisions.

2D Vs 3D Ultrasound

The traditional 2D ultrasound provides flat images, from just the sagittal and transverse planes of the patient’s body. Recent innovations in technology are now able to reconstruct the coronal plane using 3D ultrasound images that more realistically represent the internal organs.

Real Clinical Benefits of Adding 3D Ultrasound

Even if you’ve never used 3D ultrasound yourself, you may recognise it from its use in obstetrics. This technology is responsible for providing physicians and expectant parents with foetal images that are far more lifelike than conventional ultrasounds.

Yet the benefits of 3D ultrasound extend well beyond pregnancy. Growing evidence has indeed suggested that this approach can be a useful advancement from a standard ultrasound and, in many cases, improve the physicians ability to accurately diagnose certain gynaecological concerns. The benefits of adding 3D ultrasound include:

• Diagnosing congenital anomalies: Nearly 17 percent of women prone to recurrent miscarriages in one study had congenital uterine anomalies. Compared with traditional transvaginal ultrasonography- which identifies about 60-82 percent of these anomalies – 3D ultrasound can diagnose with 88 to 100 percent accuracy, according to research published in the Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine.
• Locating fibroids and polyps: Research published in Ultrasonography suggests that 3D ultrasound is more useful than 2D technology at pinpointing the location of fibroid tumours and endometrial polyps in some patients.
• Identifying uterine adhesions: Also known as uterine synechiae, uterine adhesions can impair fertility. 3D ultrasound appears to be more effective than traditional procedures at identifying these adhesions.
• Examining intrauterine device (IUD) placement: Gynaecologists typically use 2D ultrasound to place IUDs, but this approach doesn’t completely visualise the full IUD. By using 3D ultrasound, physicians can see the entire device in the coronal plane while keeping exam times short. This has also been shown to help improve the detection rate of IUDs that have embedded into the uterine tissue. Another study published in Ultrasonography noted, identifying a significant source of pain and abnormal bleeding in some patients.

Immediate, Accurate Results

Given all the benefits of 3D ultrasound, the technology significantly improves a gynaecologist’s ability to make accurate diagnoses. Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School found that 3D ultrasound helped provide gynaecologists with additional information in 53 per cent of patients who had no abnormal findings on a standard, 2D ultrasound. That means that you can feel confident making immediate clinical decisions- and when 3D technology is at your fingertips, your patients don’t need to leave your clinic for advanced imaging.

 Here at Bioscint, we offer a range of Alpinion Ultrasound Machines. Kindly get in touch with us for more information!

Source: women’s health.