Diagnostic Medical Sonography News March 2019 | Page 5

Musculoskeletal Ultrasound: Why Choose This
Type of Diagnostic Imaging Over an MRI?
Musculoskeletal Ultrasound is a newer concept that is largely used in the rotator
cuff of the shoulder. Due to the superficial nature of this area, ultrasound is
quite effective in imaging this region. This technique is starting to be used in
other musculoskeletal regions of the body as well, and as time goes on, the
healthcare industry (as well as the patients) are finding more and more reasons
to choose an ultrasound over magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
In this day and age, more patients are opting for less invasive diagnostic
procedures for their healthcare needs. The standard route a physician would
take when there is a sign of an abnormality in a musculoskeletal region is a
diagnostic MRI. Although the use of an MRI is a highly effective way of finding
injuries or pathologies in bones or muscles, not every patient is able to receive
one or wants to receive the high exposure to magnetic fields that would come
with an MRI. The types of patients unable to receive this diagnostic procedure
would be someone that has metal implants in their bones, a pregnant patient,
someone with a pacemaker, an overweight patient, or someone who is
claustrophobic. A musculoskeletal ultrasound can detect many ailments in
superficial structures such as tendon or muscle tears, access fluid, inflammation,
cysts, tumors, nerve entrapments and foreign objects. Therefore, if the patient is
not a good candidate for an MRI, an ultrasound may be a good alternative.
With the continuing rise in the cost of healthcare, the price of a procedure
is more important than ever to a patient. The use of ultrasound over an MRI
is very cost-efficient. On average, an MRI in the U.S. can cost the patient
upwards of $2,611 (Google). Whereas, the average cost of an ultrasound in
the U.S. is less than ¼ of that price. (HonorHealth) An ultrasound machine is
also portable, unlike an MRI machine, which allows the procedure to be done
when and where it is needed. During an MRI, the patient is asked to remain
as still as possible to get optimal images. An ultrasound, though, is done in
real time and the sonographer can get images of a region in motion and can
manipulate the transducer to receive images from every angle in a shorter
amount of time. Therefore, making the procedure just as effective in obtaining
the correct diagnosis for the patient. An MRI will likely remain the gold standard
in musculoskeletal imaging, but the use of ultrasound has been proven to be an
excellent alternative for diagnosis.
Kalie Williams
Program Intern
Sources:
“Ultrasound-Musculoskeletal.” RadiologyInfo.org, RSNA Radiological Society & American College of
Radiology, www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=musculous.
“9 Amazing Facts about Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Imaging.” Huntington Beach Sports Chiropractor-
Huntington Beach, Orange County, CA, www.p2sportscare.com/musculoskeletal-ultrasound/.
“How Much Does an Ultrasound Cost?” HonorHealth: Making Healthy Personal - Phoenix & Scottsdale,
14 Jan. 2019, www.honorhealth.com/patients-visitors/average-pricing/ultrasound-costs
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