Prudent Clinical Use and Safety of Diagnostic Ultrasound

Diagnostic ultrasound has been in use since the late 1950s. Given its known benefits and recognized efficacy for medical diagnosis, including use during human pregnancy, the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine herein addresses the clinical safety of such use: no independently confirmed adverse effects caused by exposure from present diagnostic ultrasound instruments have been reported in human patients in the absence of contrast agents. Biological effects have been reported in pre-clinical mammalian systems using diagnostic instruments (e.g., localized pulmonary capillary hemorrhage, particularly in pre-clinical mammalian-neonatal lung¹), or therapeutic instruments operating at diagnostically relevant exposures (e.g., neuromodulation and bone healing). Increased outputs, indicated by the Thermal and Mechanical Index displays, and/or increased exposure time can increase the likelihood of bioeffects. Prudent clinical use includes consideration of recommended settings based on these Indices. Ultrasound should be used only by qualified health professionals to provide medical benefit to the patient. Ultrasound exposures during examinations should be as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA).^1,2,3

References

1. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. Official Statements: Statement and Recommendations for Safety Assurance in Lung Ultrasound. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine website. J Ultrasound Med. 2023;42:E63-E67. Approved July 16, 2023.

2. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. Official Statements: As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) Principle. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine website. Reapproved May 19, 2020.

3. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. Official Statements: Recommended Maximum Scanning Times for Displayed Thermal Index (TI) Values. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine website. Reapproved September 26, 2022.