Diagnostic
Ultrasound FAQS
Ultrasound
imaging, also called ultrasound scanning or sonography, utilizes high
frequency sound waves to produce pictures of the inside of the body.
Because ultrasound images are captured in real time, they can show
the structure and movement of the body’s internal organs, as well
as blood flowing through blood vessels.
Ultrasound
examinations can help to diagnose a variety of conditions and to
assess organ damage following illness. Ultrasound
is used to help physicians diagnose symptoms such as:
Ultrasound
is a useful way of examining many of the body's internal organs,
including but not limited to the:
Ultrasound
is also used to:
- guide
procedures such as needle
biopsies,
in which needles are used to extract sample cells from an abnormal
area for laboratory testing.
- image
the breasts and to guide biopsy of breast cancer (see
the Ultrasound-Guided
Breast Biopsy page).
- diagnose
a variety of heart conditions and to assess damage after a heart
attack or other illness.
Doppler
ultrasound images can help the physician to see and evaluate:
- blockages
to blood flow (such as clots)
- narrowing
of vessels (which may be caused by plaque)
- tumors
and congenital malformation
With
knowledge about the speed and volume of blood flow gained from a
Doppler ultrasound image, the physician can often determine whether a
patient is a good candidate for a procedure like angioplasty.
You
should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing for your ultrasound
exam. You will need to remove all clothing and jewelry in the area to
be examined.
You
may be asked to wear a gown during the procedure.
Other
preparation depends on the type of examination you will have. For
some scans your doctor may instruct you not to eat or drink for as
many as 12 hours before your appointment. For others you may be asked
to drink up to six glasses of water two hours prior to your exam and
avoid urinating so that your bladder is full when the scan begins.
For
most ultrasound exams, the patient is positioned lying face-up on an
examination table that can be tilted or moved.
A
clear gel is applied to the area of the body being studied to help
the transducer make secure contact with the body and eliminate air
pockets between the transducer and the skin. The sonographer
(ultrasound technologist) or radiologist then presses the transducer
firmly against the skin and sweeps it back and forth over the area of
interest.
Doppler
sonography is performed using the same transducer.
When
the examination is complete, the patient may be asked to dress and
wait while the ultrasound images are reviewed. However, the
sonographer or radiologist is often able to review the ultrasound
images in real-time as they are acquired and the patient can be
released immediately.In
some ultrasound studies, the transducer is attached to a probe and
inserted into a natural opening in the body. These exams include:
- Transesophageal
echocardiogram. The transducer is inserted into the esophagus to obtain images of
the heart.
- Transrectal
ultrasound. The transducer is inserted into a man's rectum to view the prostate.
- Transvaginal
ultrasound. The transducer is inserted into a woman's vagina to view the uterus
and ovaries.
Most
ultrasound examinations are completed within 30 minutes to an hour.
Your
images will be interpreted by a board certified physician meeting the
criteria established by the American College of Radiology. The
results will be sent to your ordering physician as soon as they are
available and he/she will share the results with you. In virtually
all cases, your physician will be able to view your images on his/her
computer system within 24 hours. If you want a copy of your images to
take to another doctor please ask for them at the time of your exam.
We
want your exam to be as comfortable and pleasant as possible. If you
have any additional questions, please call us at (479) 571-1004.
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