What Ranges of Probe Pressure Are Applied During Ultrasound Examinations? A Systematic Review.

UNLABELLED: The number of US exams has nearly doubled in the last ten years. Many researchers point out the probe pressure force influence on image quality and other aspects of examination. This review aims to identify the range of applied probe pressure during US examinations and gather information on probe compression force values during various US examinations (examination types, body regions, etc.).

METHODS

A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted using IEEE Xplore, Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed/MEDLINE. Studies with quantitative data on probe pressure during US by human operators or RUSs (robotic ultrasound systems) were included.

RESULTS

From the 26 included studies, force ranges varied up to 34.5 N for abdominal exams. Robotic systems applied slightly higher maximum forces (34.5 N) than human operators (30 N). Most studies reported positive impacts of force monitoring on image quality and diagnostic precision, with no adverse effects on patient comfort.

CONCLUSIONS

The evidence collectively emphasizes the critical role of applied pressure in US. The nonuniformity of the reviewed studies does not allow for identifying a clearly defined range of probe pressure forces or force monitoring protocols. Integrating RUS and standardized pressure protocols could improve diagnostic consistency and accuracy.