Is diagnostic ultrasound safe? Current international consensus on the thermal mechanism.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the potential risk of heating during ultrasound examinations and to report the international consensus on the safety of ultrasound in medicine.

DATA SOURCES AND DATA EXTRACTION

Literature on the biological effects of hyperthermia and ultrasound.

CONCLUSION

The use of B-mode grey-scale imaging is not contra-indicated on thermal grounds. Some pulsed Doppler equipment has the potential to produce biologically significant temperature increases, specifically at interfaces between bone and soft tissue. Exposures resulting in temperatures less than 38.5 degrees C can be used without reservation.