Doctors' Digest

Doppler ultrasound – how does it work?

The use of ultrasound to monitor the growth of a baby in the womb is well known but several other different types of ultrasound scan are now possible that can investigate problems with various parts of the body. Like other ultrasound scans, Doppler ultrasound uses sound waves and their reflection to ‘see’ inside your body, in the same way that bats and submarines use sound to perceive their environment. These tests are particularly useful as they are non-invasive, which means they do not require any surgery or intrusion of the scanner into the body. Nor do they involve potentially harmful radiation, such as X-rays.