Which imaging modality uses sound waves to create images?

Ultrasound is the imaging modality that utilizes sound waves to create images. This technique is based on the principle of echolocation, where high-frequency sound waves are emitted and then reflected back to the transducer from tissues and organs in the body. The ultrasound machine then interprets these echoes to construct real-time images of the internal structures.

Ultrasound is commonly used for various applications, including obstetrics to monitor fetal development, assessing blood flow in vessels, and examining soft tissues. The key advantage of ultrasound is that it is safe, non-invasive, and does not involve ionizing radiation, making it suitable for a wide range of patients, including pregnant women.

Other imaging modalities, such as X-rays and CT scans, utilize ionizing radiation, while MRI leverages a magnetic field and radio waves instead of sound waves. Understanding the distinction between these technologies helps clarify why ultrasound is uniquely oriented around the use of sound for imaging.