Imaging techniques, particularly ultrasound for pelvic organ visualisation has come a long way in 30 years. The first scans were like hand drawn pictures, slow and of poor resolution. The techniques improved to reasonable quality "real time" scans, where pictures could be seen immediately and motion was visible. Resolution has improved and computing power has increased and the sound echo data can now be manipulated to give a 3 dimensional picture of the organ, be it a baby or an ovary. The latest equipment can do this so well that 3D pictures can be produced in "real time", and movement observation is possible (4D scans)
Ultrasound pelvic examination is done with a transducer, a source of ultrasound waves and a reciever of echos. This is used through the abdominal wall, and to see the pelvic organs with great clarity, can be used in the vagina. The proceedure can be performed by a sonographer at a general medical imaging department, or at a gynaecological ultrasound service where the scan and interpretation are done by a gynaecologist specialising in ultrasound.
This type of imaging has reduced the need for surgical "exploratory" surgery, particularly when looking for sources of pain or determining the nature of ovarian cysts.
Colin Pearse
