Ultrasound

Ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves and their echoes to create visuals that enable physicians to see soft tissue regions inside the body.

Ultrasound is used to view many organs such as the heart, liver, kidneys, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, ovaries, uterus, breast, testicles and thyroid.

Physicians also use ultrasound to help them when performing biopsies and other invasive procedures.

Benefits of Ultrasound

One of the advantages of ultrasound is that it can scan parts of the inner body without the need for radiation. It is also a fast and typically pain-free procedure. Ultrasound images can be produced instantly on a computer screen for diagnostic purposes. These moving images may also be recorded as a photograph or series of photos for later review.

How It Works

During the ultrasound exam, the patient lies on a table and a warm gel is applied to the skin over the area being studied. The gel helps the sound waves travel efficiently through the body.

Next, a transducer, a small hand-held device, is gently glided over the skin. Sound waves from the transducer pass harmlessly through the skin and bounce off specific organs and tissue to create echoes. The echoes are converted to images that appear on a nearby video screen. The exam is usually painless, unless the patient is tender to the touch.

In Preparation 

Most upper abdomen ultrasounds require 8 hours of fasting, and most pelvic exams require a full bladder. There is usually no preparation for other procedures.

The exam is usually painless unless the patient is tender to the touch. Most upper abdomen ultrasounds require 8 hours of fasting and most pelvic exams require a full bladder. There is usually no preparation for other procedures.

Ultrasound exams are conducted by skilled registered sonographers; and board-certified radiologists interpret the results and send a report to your health care provider.

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