From Siemens Medical Systems;
'The SONOLINE Omnia™ ultrasound system offers mobility, high performance, and ease of use. This digital imaging system delivers excellent 2D, color flow, and Doppler image quality for a variety of general imaging exam types. In addition, the SONOLINE Omnia with cardiac option includes special features that enable use for adult cardiac imaging.'

A thyroid ultrasound evaluates the size and shape of the thyroid gland and parathyroid glands. A thyroid ultrasound can show nodules, cysts, tumors, and an enlargement, but a sonogram cannot determine the function of the thyroid. Ultrasound guides the placement of the needle during a thyroid fine needle aspiration biopsy.

See also Sonographic Features, Ultrasound Imaging Modes, Anechoic, Beam Width Artifact and Enhancement Artifact.

(TRUS) Transrectal sonography (also called transrectal ultrasonography, transrectal echography (TRE), endorectal ultrasound (ERUS or EUS)) is an ultrasound procedure used to examine the prostate gland, the rectum or bladder.
A small, lubricated transducer placed into the rectum releases sound waves, which create echoes as they enter the region of interest. A computer creates a picture called a sonogram.
TRUS is commonly used for guidance during a prostate needle biopsy and may be used to deliver brachytherapy and monitor cancer treatment. Transrectal ultrasonography detects enlargement, tumors and other abnormalities of the prostate, rectal polyps, rectal cancer, perianal infection, and sphincter muscle injuries. TRUS is also performed on male patients with infertility to view the prostate and surrounding structures and on patients with suspected bladder conditions or disease to view the bladder.

See also Transurethral Sonography, Endoscopic Ultrasound, Pelvic Ultrasound, Rectal Probe, Biplane Probe, Endocavitary Echography and High Intensity Focused Ultrasound.

Ultrasound biomicroscopy utilizes high frequency (10 - 50 MHz) diagnostic ultrasound to examine living tissue at a microscopic level and allows to image the skin with extremely high resolution to a depth of 2-3 centimeters. Ultrasound biomicroscopy images provide detailed anatomical information that can lead to better and more accurate treatments and avoid a biopsy.
Ultrasound biomicroscopy improves also the spatial resolution of US images of the anterior segment of the eye. US biomicroscopy of the eye operates in the 50 MHz range with a possible axial resolution on the order of 30 μm. In this frequency range, tissue penetration of only approximately 5 mm is attainable. Both continuous wave Doppler and high-frequency pulsed Doppler can be used.

See also Ultrasound Imaging Procedures, A-Scan, B-Scan and C-Scan.

Conventional, CT and MR imaging technologies are limited in their availability, to depict soft tissue, or to show dynamic activity, like cardiac muscle contractility and blood flow. Easy applicability, real-time sonography and biopsy facilitation are important advantages in veterinarian medicine. Veterinary ultrasound has a very high sensitivity to show the composition of soft tissues, but the low specificity is a disadvantage. High ultrasound system performance includes Doppler techniques, contrast enhanced ultrasound, 3D ultrasound, and tissue harmonic imaging to improve resolution.
Technical and physical requirements of veterinary ultrasound are the same as in human ultrasonography. The higher the sound frequency, the better the possible resolution, but the poorer the tissue penetration. Image quality is depended of the ultrasound equipment. For example, a 10 MHz transducer is excellent for imaging of superficial structures; a 3.5 or 5.0 megahertz transducer allows sufficient penetration to see inner structures like the liver or the heart. In addition, the preparation and performing of the examination is similar to that of humans. The sound beam penetrates soft tissue and fat well, but gas and bone impede the ultrasonic power. Fluid filled organs like the bladder are often used as an acoustic window, and an ultrasound gel is used to conduct the sound beam.