Ultrasound imaging (also called ultrasound scanning or sonography) is a relatively inexpensive, fast and radiation-free way to look inside the body. Ultrasound is excellent for non-invasively imaging and diagnosing a number of organs and conditions, without X-ray radiation. Obstetrics relies heavily on ultrasound to provide detailed images of the fetus and uterus. Ultrasound can show fetal development, and bodily function like breathing, urination, and movement. Ultrasound is also used for evaluating the kidneys, liver, pancreas, heart, and blood vessels of the neck and abdomen. Ultrasound can also guide fine needle, tissue biopsy to facilitate sampling cells from an organ for lab testing

Ultrasound is also being used more and more to image the breasts and to guide the biopsy of breast cancer.