ultrasound frequencies
Ultrasound frequencies in diagnostic radiology range from 2 MHz to approximately 15 MHz.
It is important to remember that higher frequencies of ultrasound have shorter wavelengths and are absorbed/attenuated more easily. Therefore, higher frequencies are not as penetrating. This explains why high frequencies are used for the superficial body structures and low frequencies are used for those that are deeper.
Medical ultrasound transducers contain more than one operating frequency. The following frequencies are a guide to frequencies typically used for ultrasound examination:
- 2.5 MHz: deep abdomen, obstetric and gynecological imaging
- 3.5 MHz: general abdomen, obstetric and gynecological imaging
- 5.0 MHz: vascular, breast, pelvic imaging
- 7.5 MHz: breast, thyroid
- 10.0 MHz: breast, thyroid, superficial veins, superficial masses, musculoskeletal imaging.
- 15.0 MHz: superficial structures, musculoskeletal imaging.
Related Radiopaedia articles
Imaging physics
- imaging physics
- imaging in practice
- imaging technology
- x-ray physics
- ionizing radiation
- interaction with matter
- x-ray spectrum
- radiation units
- effective dose
- exposure
- legacy units
- radiation safety
- radiation damage (biomolecular)
- radiation damage (skin injury)
- stochastic effect
- CT physics
- MRI physics
- B0
- chemical shift
- dependence of magnetization (proton density, field strength and temperature)
- echo time
- eddy currents
- electromagnetic induction
- Ernst angle
- flip angle
- Larmor frequency
- magnetic dipole magnetic field gradient
- magnetic susceptibility
- magnetism
- molecular tumbling rate effects on T1 and T2
- net magnetization vector (NMV)
- relaxation
- repetition time
- resonance and radiofrequency (RF)
- units of magnetism
- ultrasound physics
- absorption
- acoustic impedance
- attenuation
- beam focusing
- beam steering
- decibel
- Doppler effect
- dynamic range
- focal zone
- frame rate
- gain
- line density
- piezoelectric effect
- power output
- reflection
- refraction
- scattering
- time gain compensation
- ultrasound frequencies
- nuclear medicine physics