Since sonography was first introduced as a non-invasive diagnostic method, its popularity has steadily increased over the years. Touting itself as one of the safest modalities for viewing internal structures of the body, it has progressed beyond obstetric and gynecologic use. While prenatal diagnostics are still the most common use of this procedure, it is being used on the cardiac, vascular, and nervous systems.
Neurosonology
Neurosonography has been gaining ground as sonograms become more and more developed and advanced. At first, it was used for biggest areas that allowed sound waves to have more space to reverberate. Today, smaller Doppler sonograms can be used to see inside the vasculature of the body, to view blood flow in real time as it travels through the vessels. From adults to neonates, sonography can be used to view the inside of their vessels, making diagnosis of vascular diseases and conditions much easier and speeding up the time it takes to move from diagnosis to medical management. The requirements and fees for studying in a neurosonology course vary on the institution that offers training for it. |
Giant Cell Arteritis
Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) is a kind of vasculitis that causes inflammation of large blood vessels, usually located in the head and neck. GCA is usually diagnosed in the temples, giving it the name temporal arteritis as well. You will notice that the head and neck, and specifically the temples, are where there is greater blood flow, creating large vessels. In these places where blood pressure is higher or blood volume is larger, the vessels stretch to accommodate those conditions.
GCA can cause different neurologic symptoms to manifest, such as persistent temporal headaches and neck pain, jaw muscle pain (especially while eating), and loss of vision. Because the brain and the structures of the head need more blood than other parts of the body, inflammation of the vessels that supply them causes tissue damage – leading to functional and sometimes irreversible loss.
Diagnosing GCA
The gold standard for diagnosing this condition is temporal biopsy. However, biopsies have a certain amount of risk because they are invasive procedures, with the risk increasing further because the biopsy is done in cranial area. Cranial ultrasound was studied and presented at the European League Against Rheumatism Annual Congress, reporting results of cranial ultrasound having better sensitivity compared to temporal biopsies (TAB).
Cranial ultrasound had better predictive results for GCA, seen when initial diagnosis through cranial ultrasound was compared to confirmed clinical diagnoses three months later. These results can complete change the way cranial and vascular conditions are diagnosed because it is more cost-effective and safer than a biopsy. Soon enough, it can completely replace TAB as the gold standard in diagnosing GCA.
Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) is a kind of vasculitis that causes inflammation of large blood vessels, usually located in the head and neck. GCA is usually diagnosed in the temples, giving it the name temporal arteritis as well. You will notice that the head and neck, and specifically the temples, are where there is greater blood flow, creating large vessels. In these places where blood pressure is higher or blood volume is larger, the vessels stretch to accommodate those conditions.
GCA can cause different neurologic symptoms to manifest, such as persistent temporal headaches and neck pain, jaw muscle pain (especially while eating), and loss of vision. Because the brain and the structures of the head need more blood than other parts of the body, inflammation of the vessels that supply them causes tissue damage – leading to functional and sometimes irreversible loss.
Diagnosing GCA
The gold standard for diagnosing this condition is temporal biopsy. However, biopsies have a certain amount of risk because they are invasive procedures, with the risk increasing further because the biopsy is done in cranial area. Cranial ultrasound was studied and presented at the European League Against Rheumatism Annual Congress, reporting results of cranial ultrasound having better sensitivity compared to temporal biopsies (TAB).
Cranial ultrasound had better predictive results for GCA, seen when initial diagnosis through cranial ultrasound was compared to confirmed clinical diagnoses three months later. These results can complete change the way cranial and vascular conditions are diagnosed because it is more cost-effective and safer than a biopsy. Soon enough, it can completely replace TAB as the gold standard in diagnosing GCA.
Learning neurosonography
There are more than 200 schools that offer sonography training programs in the US by 2015. You can train on campus or sign up for an ultrasound technician course online (available in two schools). The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) only recognizes three major specializations that can be studied in its entirety in separate programs and curriculum, specifically: cardiac, vascular, general, and pediatric cardiac. Neurosonology is usually included in general sonography, or as a post-graduate training program.
Sonographers can earn an annual salary of as much as $100,000 annually, depending on the location and industry where they work. On average, a sonographer earns around $67,000 each year, with a mean hourly wage of $32.39. If you want to study neurosonology further, be sure to inquire at your school about special training for sonography of the nervous system or even an on-the-job specialization program.