Scanning & Display Orientation

Probe & Display Orientation

It is important to understand probe orientation and image display orientation when you are scanning a patient.

There are a few concepts to understand:

1. Anatomical or Scanning Planes
2. Probe Orientation
3. Display Orientation for Cardiac Scanning
4. Display Orientation for Radiology

1. Anatomical Planes

There are 3 anatomical planes:

a) Transverse or Axial Plane

b) Saggital Plane

c) Coronal Plane

2. Probe Orientation

When scanning with the probe in the transverse orientation, the probe marker should face to the patient’s right. When scanning with the probe in the longitudinal orientation, the probe maker should face cephalad.

3. Display Orientation for Cardiac Imaging

On the display, the orientation marker is placed on the right of the screen for cardiac imaging. (Cardiac Preset)

4. Display Orientation for Other Organs

On the display, the orientation marker is placed on the left of the screen. The orientation marker on the screen corresponds to the orientation marker on the probe.

Transducer Manipulations

References & Further Reading

1. Artifacts in diagnostic ultrasound. Hindi, Peterson & Barr. Reports in medical imaging. 2013.
2. A common misunderstanding in lung ultrasound: The comet tail artifact. Lee et al. Medical Ultrasound. 2018.
3. Lung B line artifacts and their use. Dietrich et al. Journal of Thoracic Disease. 2016.
4. Imaging artifacts in echocardiography. Le et al. Anesthesia & Analgesia. 2016.