Your Ultrasound Exam
What can I expect at my ultrasound appointment?
You will normally need to make an appointment for an ultrasound examination. You may be questioned about your symptoms to ensure the correct type of examination is performed. The time taken and preparation required is dependant upon the type of scan requested. Some scans require you to fast for 6-8 hours or to fill your bladder. Ultrasound examinations can be complex and may take up to two hours. The duration of the scan is not an indication to the presence of an abnormality.
Diagnostic ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves to produce images of organs, tissues and blood flow within the body. An ultrasound transducer (often referred to as a probe) is used to generate the sound waves that lead to the final image on the screen. There are many complex interactions that take place to enable internal structures of the body to be visualised with ultrasound. One of the advantages of ultrasound is that it has the ability to observe structures in real time and examine their movement.
A water-based, hypoallergenic gel is used to enable the scan to be performed. For this reason, the area to be examined must not be covered by any clothing, and you may be asked to change into a gown, depending on the area of your body being scanned. The sonographer will often ask you questions about your symptoms to ensure they assess the relevant areas. The scan should not be painful, but some pressure with the ultrasound transducer is often required. The sonographer may ask you to lie in several positions throughout the scan, or perhaps to hold your breath.
There are no known side effects from having a diagnostic ultrasound scan performed for medical imaging purposes. The sonographer still, however, applies techniques to ensure that your scan is a safe procedure. For this reason, your scan should only be performed by an accredited sonographer, or trained medical practitioner, and a scan should only be performed when clinically indicated.
Ultrasound can be used to examine many parts of the body. Following are some examples.
- Abdominal organs like the liver, kidneys, spleen, gall bladder, pancreas
- The heart, heart valves and blood flow
- Breast
- Thyroid gland
- Testicles and scrotum
- Prostate gland
- Muscles and tendons like the shoulder, wrist, elbow, ankle, knee
- Blood vessels like carotid arteries, leg veins, leg arteries, renal arteries
- Obstetrics
- Pelvic organs like the uterus, ovaries and urinary bladder
- Paediatric brain, hips, spinal cord and bowel
- Eyes
- Ultrasound can also be used to guide biopsy needles and in the draining of fluid collections, as well as other interventional procedures
Your doctor will decide whether ultrasound is the most appropriate test for your symptoms. Ultrasound may be used to help make a diagnosis or to follow a medical condition.
Unfortunately not all abnormalities are evident on ultrasound and further testing may still be required.