March 2025 - Female Focus

💌 A Note from the Authors

At SonoSim, we’re recognizing Women's History Month by highlighting the essential role ultrasound plays in women's health. Beyond OB/GYN, ultrasound is crucial in detecting and managing conditions like thyroid disorders—far more common in women—and cardiovascular disease, an area where women have historically been underrepresented in research. This Women's History Month, let’s work together to bridge the knowledge gap, advocate for better healthcare equity, and further integrate ultrasound into patient care.

🗞️ Ultrasound Application News

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death for women, yet disparities in diagnosis, treatment, and research persist. The latest findings from the CWHHA ATLAS highlight these challenges, emphasizing the urgent need for healthcare providers, researchers and policymakers to help improve outcomes for women with cardiovascular disease. SonoSim’s ultrasound training helps bridge this gap by equipping providers with the skills to recognize and diagnose heart disease in women earlier. Read the full blog post to learn how we can better support female-specific heart health issues.

📚 Case Study:  Uterus & Left Ovary

What are the relevant sonographic findings?

Background:

• 23-year-old female
• Presents to ED with abrupt onset post-coital pain in her LLQ
• Physical exam reveals localized LLQ and suprapubic discomfort to deep palpation
• The patient has a negative pregnancy test
  
  

  👇 What type of pathology is in this clip?

👩‍⚕️ Scanning & Imaging Tips: Female Pelvic Ultrasound

Applying light pressure on the abdomen or transducer can improve image quality by displacing bowel gas and bringing pelvic structures into view. This technique enhances visualization of the uterus, ovaries, and adnexa, especially in challenging cases. Applying gentle pressure on the transvaginal transducer while using the other hand on the patient's abdomen to exert slight counter-pressure may help to localize physical exam findings in the presence of endometritis, endometriosis, or pelvic inflammatory disease. Because pelvic organs typically slide over one another in response to pressure from a transvaginal transducer, gentle transducer pressure may also allow for assessment of uterine mobility; please note that uterine mobility may be limited in the presence of adhesions or scarring.

🔎 Scan & Seek - Fun with Physics

Look below to see the four-leaf clover 🍀 we hid in this sagittal view of a normal ovary.

🧠 Challenge Case of the Month: Thyroid

Case History:  This 59-year-old female presents with painless anterior neck swelling thought to represent an enlarged thyroid gland. 

Evaluate her thyroid with ultrasound..👇

💡 SonoSim Updates

Exportable Reports
We heard your feedback and are happy to announce that administrators can now export the Course Progress Report and Orientation Report as Excel or CSV files! This update provides greater flexibility in tracking learner progress and organizing your program's data. 

Easier Installation for Mac Users
Installing SonoSim on Mac is now simpler than ever. With a single click, you can complete the setup—no extra steps required!

💡 SonoSim Tips & Tricks

Looking to practice transvaginal ultrasound scanning with your SonoSim probe? First, attach the transvaginal attachment to the end of your probe (as shown).

1. Log in to My SonoSim Dashboard.
2. Navigate to ‘Scan’ (if you’re a learner) or 'Integrate' (if you’re an admin).
3. Select 'Case Features'.
4. Choose 'Transvaginal Ultrasound' to explore available cases.

😂 LOLtrasound

IImage Credit: @pocus_memes on X

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