2D and 3d Ultrasound – Which Is Better?
This question is still popular among future parents and among many doctors. So 2D and 3d Ultrasound – Which Is Better? We will try to answer the question in this article.
To understand the difference between both methods we should observe the history of 2D and 3D ultrasound. The first ultrasound devices were developed in 1955. The method of diagnosis was tested many times by scientists all around the world and was determined to be reliable and safe. It has become very popular and nowadays it is hard to imagine modern medicine without ultrasound.
After 2D ultrasound 3-dimensional devices appeared in 1989 in Austria. Unfortunately it’s technology was not spread immediately because of the low quality of images it produced and the time it took up to get one 3D image – about half an hour. The method found its wide application in medicine only in 1996. The reason was the rapid development of computer technology, which triggered the invention of the scanner with the possibility of 3-dimensional reconstruction in real time. Starting from this day 3D ultrasound is becoming more and more widely used in medicine, especially in fetus diagnostic.
What differentiate 3D and 2D devices? In 3D ultrasound devices you could see built-in reconstructions for 3D images and special sensors. Also 3D sensors look bigger than in 2D. The principle of work is also different. 3D probes include the usual 2D sensors that constantly move with the help of special mechanism. The system accumulates information from 2D scans and represents it like a 3D image. This image is displayed on the device screen.
The scan rate (typically 3.5 MHz), power and intensity of ultrasonic waves is the same in both ultrasound methods. So in a physical sense you will not feel the difference between 3D and 2D ultrasound. From other hand 3D ultrasound pregnancy has many benefits. Find them below.
Plus #1. Using 3D ultrasound it becomes possible to see some structures that are difficult to study in 2D mode; 3D images are easier to understand for future parents and simpler to interpret for doctors of other specialties.
Plus #2. 3D ultrasound is particularly valuable for detecting abnormalities in fetal development. After 3D ultrasound you and your doctor will be 100% certain in fetus state. The 3D image gives you a chance to personally count the fingers on baby hands and feet and make sure there are no defects.
Plus #3. The sex of the child is more visible using 3D ultrasound.
Plus #4. With 3D ultrasound you could even see the mimics of the child. You can see your baby smiling, frustrated or apathetic during pregnancy. It is not just interesting, but also an educational. Positive feelings allow the fetus to develop properly, at the same time bad emotions can occur because of serious problems. For example, an apathetic mood can be the symptom of asphyxia (lack of oxygen). Baby’s face, distorted in pain, could be the reason of abnormal development of the internal organs, which causes pain.
We reviewed the main advantages of 3D ultrasound pregnancy. But the most popular reason to use 3D instead of 2D ultrasound for future parents is the temptation to see the baby like in real life, in color, look into the eyes and try to understand to whom he looks like most. This is a very sentimental moment. But still 3D ultrasound is not just a neat piece of technology, there are guidelines to be followed and highly recommended amounts of ultrasound that are allowed. Find 3d ultrasound Toronto that strongly follows this rule for you to keep just the positive moments of your pregnancy.