3D/4D sonography – any safety problem
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Abstract
Gray-scale image data are processed in 3D ultrasound by repeated scans of multiple planes within a few seconds to achieve one surface rendering image and three perpendicular plane images. The 4D image is achieved by repeating 3D images in short intervals, i.e. 3D and 4D ultrasound are based on simple B-mode images. During 3D/4D acquisition, a fetus in utero is exposed by ultrasound beam for only a few seconds, and it is as short as real-time B-mode scanning. Therefore, simple 3D imaging is as safe as a simple B-mode scan. The 4D ultrasound is also as safe as a simple B-mode scan, but the ultrasound exposure should be shorter than 30 min. The thermal index (TI) and mechanical index (MI) should both be lower than 1.0, and the ultrasound study is regulated by the Doppler ultrasound if it is combined with simple 3D or 4D ultrasound. Recently, some articles have reported the functional changes of animal fetal brain neuronal cells and liver cell apoptosis with Doppler ultrasound. We discuss cell apoptosis by ultrasound in this report. Diagnostic ultrasound safety is achieved by controlling the output pulse and continuous ultrasound waves using thermal and mechanical indices, which should be <1.0 in abdominal and transvaginal scan, pulsed Doppler, as well as 3D and 4D ultrasound. The lowest spatial peak temporal average (SPTA) intensity of the ultrasound to suppress cultured cell growth is 240 mW/cm2, below which no ultrasound effect has been reported. An ultrasound user must be trained to recognize the ultrasound bioeffects; thermal and mechanical indices, and how to reduce these when they are higher than 1.0 on the monitor display; and guide the proper use of the ultrasound under the ALARA principle, because the user is responsible for ensuring ultrasound safety.
Article note
All authors are members of the WAPM Working Group on Ultrasound in Obstetrics. This paper was produced under the auspices of the World Association of Perinatal Medicine.
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The authors stated that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this article.
©2016 by De Gruyter
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- Current topics on ultrasound in perinatology
- Recommendation and Guidelines for Perinatal Practice
- Ultrasound in Africa: what can really be done?
- 3D/4D sonography – any safety problem
- Controversial ultrasound findings in mid trimester pregnancy. Evidence based approach
- Academy’s Corner
- Sonoembryology by 3D HDlive silhouette ultrasound – what is added by the “see-through fashion”?
- Original articles – Obstetrics
- How effective is ultrasound-based screening for trisomy 18 without the addition of biochemistry at the time of late first trimester?
- Single center experience in selective feticide in high-order multiple pregnancy: clinical and ethical issues
- Diagnostic accuracy of cervical elastography in predicting labor induction success: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Birth weight-related percentiles of brain ventricular system as a tool for assessment of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus and ventricular enlargement
- First trimester erythropoietin (EPO) serum concentration as a potential marker for abnormal placentation disorders. Reference values for erythropoietin (EPO) concentration at 11–13+6 weeks of gestation
- Original articles – Fetus
- Nonimmune fetal ascites: identification of ultrasound findings predictive of perinatal death
- First trimester severe ductus venosus flow abnormalities in isolation or combination with other markers of aneuploidy and fetal anomalies
- Evaluation of the adequacy of reference charts for the accurate identification of fetuses with bone length below the 5th percentile
- Does ethnicity have an effect on fetal behavior? A comparison of Asian and Caucasian populations
- Accuracy of ultrasound in estimating fetal weight and growth discordancy in triplet pregnancies
- Fetal nasal bone length in the second trimester: comparison between population groups from different ethnic origins
- Pregnancy outcome and long-term follow-up of fetuses with isolated increased NT: a retrospective cohort study
- Effect of antenatal betamethasone administration on Doppler velocimetry of fetal and uteroplacental vessels: a prospective study
- Opinion paper
- Fetal cerebro-placental ratio and adverse perinatal outcome: systematic review and meta-analysis of the association and diagnostic performance
- Congress Calendar
- Congress Calendar
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- Current topics on ultrasound in perinatology
- Recommendation and Guidelines for Perinatal Practice
- Ultrasound in Africa: what can really be done?
- 3D/4D sonography – any safety problem
- Controversial ultrasound findings in mid trimester pregnancy. Evidence based approach
- Academy’s Corner
- Sonoembryology by 3D HDlive silhouette ultrasound – what is added by the “see-through fashion”?
- Original articles – Obstetrics
- How effective is ultrasound-based screening for trisomy 18 without the addition of biochemistry at the time of late first trimester?
- Single center experience in selective feticide in high-order multiple pregnancy: clinical and ethical issues
- Diagnostic accuracy of cervical elastography in predicting labor induction success: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Birth weight-related percentiles of brain ventricular system as a tool for assessment of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus and ventricular enlargement
- First trimester erythropoietin (EPO) serum concentration as a potential marker for abnormal placentation disorders. Reference values for erythropoietin (EPO) concentration at 11–13+6 weeks of gestation
- Original articles – Fetus
- Nonimmune fetal ascites: identification of ultrasound findings predictive of perinatal death
- First trimester severe ductus venosus flow abnormalities in isolation or combination with other markers of aneuploidy and fetal anomalies
- Evaluation of the adequacy of reference charts for the accurate identification of fetuses with bone length below the 5th percentile
- Does ethnicity have an effect on fetal behavior? A comparison of Asian and Caucasian populations
- Accuracy of ultrasound in estimating fetal weight and growth discordancy in triplet pregnancies
- Fetal nasal bone length in the second trimester: comparison between population groups from different ethnic origins
- Pregnancy outcome and long-term follow-up of fetuses with isolated increased NT: a retrospective cohort study
- Effect of antenatal betamethasone administration on Doppler velocimetry of fetal and uteroplacental vessels: a prospective study
- Opinion paper
- Fetal cerebro-placental ratio and adverse perinatal outcome: systematic review and meta-analysis of the association and diagnostic performance
- Congress Calendar
- Congress Calendar
