Does a venous ultrasound use radiation?

Prep and consent forms for imaging often carry a line about radiation. For a leg venous ultrasound, one named source answers that line directly.

What the source says about radiation

No, according to my.clevelandclinic.org. Its page on upper or lower venous extremity ultrasound says: "In addition, ultrasound does not use radiation, as X-ray tests do."

What the sentence says and what it does not

The opening words, "In addition", mark this as a follow-on point to something stated before it. The same page defines the method in one sentence: "Ultrasound (also known as sonography or ultrasonography) is a diagnostic procedure that transmits high-frequency sound waves, inaudible to the human ear, through body tissues."

So the exam is described as running on sound waves. The radiation sentence speaks about ultrasound itself. It does not speak about any other test that might appear on the same order. If your paperwork lists a second imaging test, that line needs its own answer.

For background on the conditions involved, see this page on deep vein thrombosis and this one on evaluating varicose veins and venous insufficiency.

What to ask before you book

Does my order list any test other than the ultrasound? If the form has a radiation line, which test does it refer to? Readers in Oak Lawn and across the Chicago area can ask both at scheduling and get the answer before the day of the exam.

The desk's note

One sentence about a method cannot cover every line on an order. Only the form in your hand lists what you are actually booked for.