Sonogram vs Ultrasound: What Is the Difference?

If you have been told you need a sonogram, or come across the word online, you may wonder whether it is different from an ultrasound scan. It is not a different test. The NHS Data Model and Dictionary defines an ultrasound scan as a procedure that uses high frequency sound waves to create an image of part of the inside of the body, and notes that it is also known as a sonogram.

This guide explains what a sonogram is, how the two words are used, who carries out the scan in the UK, the main types of ultrasound and what the NHS says about safety.

What is a sonogram?

A sonogram is the image made during an ultrasound scan. MedlinePlus, the health information service of the US National Library of Medicine, describes ultrasound as an imaging test that uses sound waves to make pictures, also known as a sonogram, of organs, tissues and other structures inside your body. It lists sonogram, ultrasonography and diagnostic medical sonography among the other names for the test.

So in everyday use, sonogram can mean either the picture or the whole test. The NHS patient page on the test calls it an ultrasound scan throughout and does not use the word sonogram.

Ultrasound vs sonogram: is a sonogram the same as an ultrasound?

For practical purposes, yes. If one clinic lists an abdominal ultrasound and another talks about an abdominal sonogram, both mean an ultrasound scan of the abdomen. The simplest way to keep them apart is that ultrasound is the sound wave technique and the scan itself, and a sonogram is the image it produces.

The NHS explains how the scan works. A healthcare professional puts gel on your skin and moves a small probe over the area being looked at, and the sound waves are used to create images of the inside of your body. The NHS says an ultrasound scan can take around 10 to 45 minutes.

What is a sonographer?

A sonographer is the professional who carries out ultrasound scans. MedlinePlus describes a sonographer as a health care professional who has special training to do ultrasound exams, and the NHS page on echocardiograms says heart scans are usually done by a sonographer.

In the UK, the title is not protected by law. The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) states that the title sonographer is not a protected title. The Society of Radiographers says sonographer is not yet a statutorily regulated protected title. Many sonographers are registered through their original profession: the Society says those who first trained as radiographers can register with the HCPC, and those who trained as nurses or midwives with the NMC, but direct entrants to sonography training cannot register with the HCPC. The Society supports statutory regulation of sonography.

If you want to know who will carry out your scan, ask the clinic. Each scan is reported by an appropriately qualified clinician, and the clinic will tell you how long its report takes.

Types of ultrasound scan

The NHS describes three ways a scan can be done: an external ultrasound, where the probe is moved over the skin; an internal ultrasound, where a probe is placed inside the vagina or rectum; and an endoscopic ultrasound, where the probe is attached to an endoscope passed down the food pipe. Common types you will see listed by clinics include:

• Abdominal ultrasound: a scan of organs in the tummy. The NHS lists an ultrasound scan among the tests for gallstones, for example.
• Pelvic ultrasound: a scan of the organs in the pelvis, done over the skin or internally. For some scans the NHS says you might need to drink a few glasses of water beforehand so you have a full bladder.
• Doppler ultrasound: a scan that shows movement. MedlinePlus says Doppler ultrasound can show movement in the body, such as heartbeats and blood flow. The NHS says that if a doctor thinks you have a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), you should be referred to hospital within 24 hours for an ultrasound scan.
• Echocardiogram: an ultrasound scan of the heart. The NHS says it is done to see how well your heart is working, that the usual type is a transthoracic echocardiogram with the probe on your chest, and that it takes around 30 to 40 minutes.

Pregnancy scans are a separate area and are arranged through your maternity care. Our guide to what ultrasound can detect covers what other scans are used for.

Is a sonogram safe?

The NHS says ultrasound scans do not use any radiation, unlike X-rays or CT scans, and that the sound waves used are safe. MedlinePlus similarly says ultrasound has not been linked to any health harms and does not use ionising radiation.

Because no ionising radiation is involved, IR(ME)R does not apply. Many clinics accept self-referral after their own safety screening, but each clinic sets its own policy.

What ultrasound is used for

The NHS says ultrasound is used to see inside the body, such as muscles and organs, to investigate symptoms, to monitor a condition and to help a health professional see inside your body during a procedure. MedlinePlus adds that it can be used to guide a biopsy.

Ultrasound is not the right test for every question, and sometimes another scan is more suitable. Our comparison of ultrasound vs MRI explains how the two differ.

Results, urgent symptoms and next steps

In the NHS, ultrasound results are sent to the doctor who referred you. If you go privately, the clinic will tell you how long its report takes and how you will receive it.

Do not wait for a scan if you have urgent symptoms. The NHS says to call 999 or go to A&E if you have sudden, severe pain in your tummy, or if you have symptoms of a DVT such as pain and swelling in a leg and you feel short of breath or have chest pain. If you think you have a DVT, it says to ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111.

Prices vary by clinic, region, body area and what is included, and FindScan shows each clinic's own listed price. See our private ultrasound scan page, or compare clinics near you and send an enquiry.