Radiology Practice Test 2025 - Free Radiology Practice Questions and Study Guide

The technique that utilizes high-frequency sound waves to visualize internal structures of the body is ultrasound. This imaging method works by emitting sound waves that travel through the body and bounce off tissues, organs, and fluid. The returning sound waves are then captured and converted into images by a computer.

Ultrasound is particularly valuable because it provides real-time imaging, enabling healthcare providers to observe moving structures, such as the heart or fetal movements during pregnancy. Furthermore, it is a non-invasive procedure, does not involve ionizing radiation, and is widely used due to its safety and effectiveness in examining soft tissues, blood flow, and various organs like the liver, kidneys, and reproductive organs.

In contrast, other imaging modalities, such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRI, utilize entirely different principles. X-rays use ionizing radiation to create images based on the density of tissues, while CT scans generate cross-sectional images of the body using a series of X-ray images. MRI employs powerful magnets and radio waves to create detailed images of organs and tissues. Each of these techniques serves specific diagnostic purposes but does not use sound waves for imaging, marking ultrasound as the distinct choice for this question.