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May 19, 2020
Background. The American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine has long advocated the prudent use of medical ultrasound and has developed safety recommendation statements. These include the following: (1) ultrasound should be used by qualified health professionals to provide medical benefit to patients1; (2) ultrasound exposures should be as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) within the goals of the study2,3; (3) the participant should be informed of the anticipated exposure conditions and how these compare with normal diagnostic practice2; (4) repetitive and prolonged exposures on a single participant should be justified and consistent with prudent and conservative use2; and (5) infection control policies and procedures must be followed.4,5
Statement. Ultrasound examinations conducted for the purpose of education and training require adherence to prudent and conservative use guidelines. Specifically, the guidelines below should be followed:
References
1. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. Prudent clinical use and safety of diagnostic ultrasound. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine website. https://www.aium.org/officialStatements/34. Approved May, 2019.
2. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. Safety in training and research. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine website. https://www.aium.org/officialStatements/36. Approved May 19, 2020.
3. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. As low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) principle. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine website. https://www.aium.org/officialStatements/39. Approved May 19, 2020
4. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. Statement on mammalian biological effects in tissues with gas body contrast agents. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine website. https://www.aium.org/officialStatements/25. Approved March 25, 2015.
5. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. Guidelines for cleaning and preparing external- and internal-use ultrasound transducers and equipment between patients as well as safe handling and use of ultrasound coupling gel. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine website. https://www.aium.org/officialStatements/57. Approved March 27, 2020.
6. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. Recommended maximum scanning times for displayed thermal index (TI) values. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine website. https://www.aium.org/officialStatements/65. Approved October 30, 2016.
7. US Food and Drug Administration. Marketing clearance of diagnostic ultrasound systems and transducers. US Food and Drug Administration website. https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/marketing-clearance-diagnostic-ultrasound-systems-and-transducers. Current as of June 27, 2019.
8. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. Statement on mammalian biological effects in tissues with naturally occurring gas bodies. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine website. https://www.aium.org/officialStatements/6. Approved March 25, 2015.
9. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. Statement on mammalian biological effects in tissues without gas bodies. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine website. https://www.aium.org/officialStatements/63. Approved March 25, 2015.
10. Sidhu PS, Cantisani V, Dietrich CF, et al. The EFSUMB guidelines and recommendations for the clinical practice of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in non-hepatic applications: update 2017 (long version). Ultraschall Med 2018; 39:e2–e44.
11. Claudon M, Dietrich CF, Choi BI, et al. Guidelines and good clinical practice recommendations for contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the liver—update 2012: a WFUMB-EFSUMB initiative in cooperation with representatives of AFSMB, AIUM, ASUM, FLAUS and ICUS. Ultraschall Med 2013; 34:11–29.
12. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. AIUM practice parameter for the performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound examinations. J Ultrasound Med 2020; 9999:1–9.