3 Modalities Our Students Are Trained for in DMS

A patient is getting her throat scanned by a diagnostic medical imaging professional

When Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology launched our diagnostic medical sonography (DMS) program in 2014, we wanted students to learn different ultrasound methods (modalities). By learning three different methods, graduates can present themselves to employers as being versatile and able to handle different needs. The three distinct modalities students learn include abdominal, OB/GYN and echocardiography.

Abdominal Ultrasound

Abdominal ultrasounds are noninvasive imaging procedures used to visualize the organs and structures in the abdomen. This method of sonography can be used to check the abdomen for specific conditions, such as:

  • Cysts
  • Tumors
  • Abscesses
  • Obstructions
  • Fluid build-up
  • Infections
  • Clots in blood vessels
  • Stones in the kidney, gallbladder or ureters

Abdominal ultrasounds are also useful in helping to place needles used to perform biopsies of tissue or drain fluid from a cyst. They can also be used to assess the blood flow of the various parts of the abdomen. 

OB/GYN Ultrasound

OB/GYN sonography, also known as an obstetric ultrasound, is a vital part of pregnancy care. It’s used in early-pregnancy scanning, fetal anatomy screening, fetal growth scans, detection of fetal abnormalities and multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets, etc.).

OB/GYN sonography is a safe way to check the health of an unborn baby. It allows for evaluation of the baby’s heart, head, spine and other important areas of growth. During your studies at Cambridge, you’ll learn about several different types of OB/GYN ultrasound:

  • Standard ultrasound: Standard ultrasound uses sound waves to create two-dimensional images on a screen.
  • Doppler ultrasound: This test shows how blood is moving through the baby’s heart, the umbilical cord or between the placenta and the baby.
  • 3D ultrasound: This shows a more lifelike image of the baby than a standard ultrasound.

Echocardiography

An echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart. The sonographer aims the ultrasound beam at the heart, and a transducer records the sound waves, then a computer turns those echoes into moving images on the screen. Like all ultrasounds, echocardiography is noninvasive and painless.

Students in Cambridge’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography program learn the principles of several types of echocardiography, including:

  • M-mode echocardiography
  • Doppler echocardiography
  • Color Doppler
  • 2D echocardiography
  • 3D echocardiography

By performing echocardiograms for patients, you’ll be playing a key role in discovering whether the patient has conditions such as atherosclerosis (clogged arteries), cardiomyopathy, heart disease, heart failure, aneurysm, heart valve disease, cardiac tumor, pericarditis and other serious conditions.

Our students can enter the field of ultrasound as full-body techs, placing them above the competition throughout Florida. 

Study Diagnostic Medical Sonography at Cambridge College

Are you interested in a career as an ultrasound technician (sonographer)? If the answer is yes, then an Associate’s degree from Cambridge will prepare you for the career you want. Talk to an academic advisor at Cambridge by calling 877-206-4279 or send us a message.

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