Is diagnostic ultrasound safe? Current international consensus on the thermal mechanism.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the potential risk of heating during ultrasound examinations and to report the international consensus on the safety of ultrasound in medicine.


METHODS
Literature on the biological effects of hyperthermia and ultrasound.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of B-mode grey-scale imaging is not contra-indicated on thermal grounds. Some pulsed Doppler equipment has the potential to produce biologically significant temperature increases, specifically at interfaces between bone and soft tissue. Exposures resulting in temperatures less than 38.5 degrees C can be used without reservation.
Barnett
S B
SB
Ultrasonics Laboratory, CSIRO, Chatswood, NSW.
Kossoff
G
G
Edwards
M J
MJ
D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D012449:Safety; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal