Sonography vs Ultrasound: What's the Difference?

Sonography is simply the formal name for ultrasound imaging - the same test, not a different one. If your referral says "sonography", "USG", or "ultrasound", you're being sent for one scan: high-frequency sound waves that create real-time images of the inside of your body, with no radiation.

The word comes from the Latin sonus (sound) and Greek graphein (to write) - literally "writing with sound". In Australian clinics you'll almost always hear it called an ultrasound. See our full ultrasound guide for what the scan involves.

The terms get used interchangeably, but strictly:

• Ultrasound - the sound-wave technology itself, and the everyday Australian name for the test • Sonography - the technique of using ultrasound to produce diagnostic images • Sonogram - the image the scan produces (the picture you take home from a pregnancy scan is a sonogram) • Sonographer - the university-trained health professional who performs the scan

So a sonographer performs sonography using ultrasound, producing sonograms. Book any of them and you'll be lying on the same bed with the same warm gel.

A sonographer is an accredited health professional trained specifically in ultrasound imaging. In Australia, sonographers complete postgraduate qualifications and are accredited with the Australasian Sonographer Accreditation Registry (ASAR).

During your scan, the sonographer positions the probe, optimises the images, takes the measurements, and selects the pictures a radiologist needs. They usually can't discuss findings on the spot - the formal interpretation comes in the radiologist's report, which goes to your referring doctor within a day or two.

Ultrasound covers a wide range of examinations:

• Pregnancy (obstetric) sonography - dating, 12-week, and morphology scans; see our pregnancy scan timeline • Pelvic sonography - uterus, ovaries, bladder, and prostate; see our pelvic ultrasound guide • Abdominal - liver, gallbladder, kidneys, pancreas, spleen • Musculoskeletal - tendons, muscles, joints, and guided injections • Vascular (Doppler) - blood clots, artery narrowing, varicose veins • Breast, thyroid, and small parts • Cardiac sonography (echocardiography) - performed by specialised cardiac sonographers

Each study has its own preparation - fasting, a full bladder, or nothing at all - which the clinic confirms when you book.

Yes. Diagnostic sonography needs a referral from a GP or specialist, and the referral is what makes the scan eligible for a Medicare rebate. Many standard ultrasounds are bulk billed with a valid referral - meaning no out-of-pocket cost - and most others carry a modest gap.

Your referral works at any clinic, not just the one printed on the form. See do I need a referral? for the full rules.

1. Get a referral from your GP or specialist 2. Compare ultrasound clinics near you - bulk billing, prices, and availability 3. Request a booking online and follow the clinic's preparation instructions 4. Bring your referral and Medicare card on the day

Search ultrasound clinics on Radly to compare providers near you and request an appointment without phoning around. Most standard ultrasounds are available within a few days.