As an ultrasound technician there are many different career paths that you can take. Some ultrasound techs stick with general sonography, but many of them choose to specialize because they know that choosing a specialty can boost their career. Below are just a few specialties that are found in ultrasound schools online programs. While you do not have to make your mind up about what specialty you want to go into right away it is a good idea to have a general idea while you are still in school.
Echocardiography
Echocardiography, or cardiac sonography, is a procedure involving ultrasound technicians using sonography to view the heart. Cardiac sonography is used to determine the extent of cardiovascular diseases or just to check a person’s health in relation to their heart. Fetal echocardiography is used to determine congenital heart disease in newborns and infants.
Breast Sonography
Breast sonography can be used instead of, or in addition to, mammograms and are used to detect abnormalities in patient’s breasts. Breast sonography is often used to detect early or later symptoms of breast cancer and the technique can be used on both women and men.
Ophthalmologic sonography
A patient who needs sonography performed on their eye and eye sockets will visit a sonographer who specializes in ophthalmologic sonography. There are many reasons why a patient would need ophthalmologic sonography such as tumors in the eye area or a detached retina. An ultrasound performed on the eye area can keep the eyes safe from other unsafe invasive procedures.
Doppler Sonography
The study of blood vessels and blood flow is done via Doppler sonography. Doppler ultrasounds are able to show blood flow and blockages in the vessels or heart. Additionally, Doppler sonography utilizes color which can make pictures easier to study for sonographers who work in Doppler sonography.
Gynecologic Sonography
Although the most widely known type of sonography is obstetric sonography another related form of sonography is gynecologic sonography. Gynecologic sonography is used to take ultrasound pictures of a women’s pelvic area most often focusing specifically on the reproductive system. They can be used to detect cysts and other abnormalities.
If you are in school and are looking to specialize then one of the above areas can get you started. Along with general sonography many ultrasound schools online have programs that cover the topics above so students who would like to specialize can continue their education by choosing the niche that interests them most. To find ultrasound schools online you can quickly do a search with the niche that you would like to specialize in.
