<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Ultrasound, which is a safe and non-invasive diagnostic modality that uses more and more advanced imaging techniques, has become the first-choice examination in various diseases. It is more and more often used in the general practitioner's office to supplement physical examination and interview.</p><sec id="j_jou.2016.0008_s_001"><h3>Aim</h3><p>The aim of this paper is to review the Polish medical literature pertaining to the usage of ultrasound imaging in general practice as well as to present advantages, disadvantages and utility associated with conducting ultrasound examinations by general practitioners based on selected publications.</p></sec><sec id="j_jou.2016.0008_s_002"><h3>Material and methods</h3><p>The analysis involved 15 articles found in Polish medical literature published in 1994–2013 in 9 medical journals. These publications were obtained using various data bases, such as Polish Medical Bibliography, Google Scholar as well as websites of “Lekarz Rodzinny” and “Ultrasonografia.”</p></sec><sec id="j_jou.2016.0008_s_003"><h3>Results</h3><p>Of 15 available publications, 5 papers present the usage of ultrasound imaging by a primary care physician for general purposes, 4 discuss the usage of abdominal scans, 3 – imaging of the neck and lymph nodes, 1 – lungs, and 2 discuss its usage for specific disease entities. In over 70% of the papers, the financial aspect associated with the usage of this modality in general practice is mentioned. More than a half of the publications draw attention to the possibility of using point-of-care ultrasound examinations. Advantages of ultrasonography most often mentioned by the authors include: good effects of screening, safety, short duration and low cost. The authors of eight publications also indicate disadvantages associated with ultrasound imaging used by a general practitioner.</p></sec><sec id="j_jou.2016.0008_s_004"><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>In the Polish literature, there are relatively few papers on the role of ultrasonography in the office of a primary care physician. This modality is more and more often becoming a tool that helps primary care physicians to establish diagnoses, accelerates the initiation of treatment and directs the further diagnostic process.</p></sec></abstract>

Ultrasound, which is a safe and non-invasive diagnostic modality that uses more and more advanced imaging techniques, has become the first-choice examination in various diseases. It is more and more often used in the general practitioner's office to supplement physical examination and interview.AimThe aim of this paper is to review the Polish medical literature pertaining to the usage of ultrasound imaging in general practice as well as to present advantages, disadvantages and utility associated with conducting ultrasound examinations by general practitioners based on selected publications.Material and methodsThe analysis involved 15 articles found in Polish medical literature published in 1994–2013 in 9 medical journals. These publications were obtained using various data bases, such as Polish Medical Bibliography, Google Scholar as well as websites of “Lekarz Rodzinny” and “Ultrasonografia.”ResultsOf 15 available publications, 5 papers present the usage of ultrasound imaging by a primary care physician for general purposes, 4 discuss the usage of abdominal scans, 3 – imaging of the neck and lymph nodes, 1 – lungs, and 2 discuss its usage for specific disease entities. In over 70% of the papers, the financial aspect associated with the usage of this modality in general practice is mentioned. More than a half of the publications draw attention to the possibility of using point-of-care ultrasound examinations. Advantages of ultrasonography most often mentioned by the authors include: good effects of screening, safety, short duration and low cost. The authors of eight publications also indicate disadvantages associated with ultrasound imaging used by a general practitioner.ConclusionsIn the Polish literature, there are relatively few papers on the role of ultrasonography in the office of a primary care physician. This modality is more and more often becoming a tool that helps primary care physicians to establish diagnoses, accelerates the initiation of treatment and directs the further diagnostic process.

Ultrasound imaging in the general practitioner's office – a literature review

Journal of Ultrasonography

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Public License.

Ultrasound, which is a safe and non-invasive diagnostic modality that uses more and more advanced imaging techniques, has become the first-choice examination...

Ultrasound imaging in the general practitioner's office – a literature review

Published Online: Mar 29, 2016

Page range: 78 - 86

Received: Jul 06, 2015

Accepted: Sep 07, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15557/jou.2016.0008

Keywords
general practitioners, ultrasonography, ultrasound imaging, medical imaging, lekarze rodzinni, ultrasonografia, diagnostyka ultrasonograficzna, badanie obrazowe

© 2016 Alicja Genc et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Public License.

Ultrasound imaging in the general practitioner's office – a literature review

Published Online: Mar 29, 2016

Page range: 78 - 86

Received: Jul 06, 2015

Accepted: Sep 07, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15557/jou.2016.0008

Keywordsgeneral practitioners, ultrasonography, ultrasound imaging, medical imaging, lekarze rodzinni, ultrasonografia, diagnostyka ultrasonograficzna, badanie obrazowe

© 2016 Alicja Genc et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Public License.

Keywords
general practitioners, ultrasonography, ultrasound imaging, medical imaging, lekarze rodzinni, ultrasonografia, diagnostyka ultrasonograficzna, badanie obrazowe