Vascular ultrasound is a medical imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the blood vessels in the body. This type of ultrasound is often used to evaluate the health of the arteries and veins in the neck, arms, legs, abdomen, and pelvis.
During a vascular ultrasound exam, a transducer is placed on the skin over the area being examined. The transducer emits sound waves that bounce off the blood vessels and return to the transducer. The returning sound waves are then used to create images of the blood vessels, which can be viewed on a computer screen.
Vascular ultrasound can be used to diagnose a variety of conditions, including deep vein thrombosis, peripheral artery disease, carotid artery disease, and aneurysms. It is a noninvasive and painless procedure that does not use ionizing radiation, making it a safe diagnostic tool for most patients.