General Diagnostic Ultrasound
Abdominal Ultrasound
Breast Ultrasound
Infant Hip Ultrasound
Pelvic/Transvaginal Ultrasound
Renal (Kidney) Ultrasound
Testicular Ultrasound
Thyroid Ultrasound
Abdominal Ultrasound
Abdominal ultrasound includes scanning of the liver, gallbladder,
pancreas, kidneys, aorta and spleen. This examination is
most frequently used to evaluate abdominal pain, abnormal liver
function tests, ascites
(fluid inside the peritoneal cavity), kidney, pancreas, and
the gallbladder.
If specifically requested, the lower abdomen can be scanned
for detection of hernias, aortic aneurysm or appendicitis.
Ultrasound for pyloric stenosis, one cause of infantile
projectile vomiting,
can
be diagnosed with
ultrasound.
Adequate visualization of abdominal structures with ultrasound
may be limited by layers of tissue (obesity) and the
presence of bowel gas.
Abdominal ultrasound involves scanning of the upper abdomen
with some water-soluble gel and a transducer by the
sonographer. A patient is generally positioned on his or her back
for the exam, but may be asked to
hold their breath briefly or roll on one side or the
other during the examination.
How to prepare for your Abdominal Ultrasound
Eat a fat-free dinner the night before your exam, but
do not eat or drink anything after midnight. Please
see Fat Free Diet for more information
about this diet.A small amount of clear liquid
may be taken with oral medication if needed before your
appointment. Morning appointments
are recommended.
No preparation is required for hernia ultrasound.
Breast
Ultrasound
A breast ultrasound uses sonar technology to find out
if a lump felt is solid or contains fluid. Most fluid
filled lumps are cysts and are considered to be non-cancerous
(benign). If
a
cyst is found, your healthcare
provider may recommend no further treatment and follow
you more closely for a period of time or recommend
that
your cyst be aspirated. If the lump
is solid, a biopsy will likely be recommended.
Patients are asked to undress from the waist up and
change into a gown or drape for the exam. Images
are obtained by gently pressing and rolling a hand-held
transducer over areas of the
breast
or underarms.
A
gel is utilized to improve sound wave propagation.
Breast ultrasound examinations are not painful.
To avoid delay or rescheduling of your breast ultrasound
exam arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled
appointment time to register for your
exam. Plan for an additional 30 minutes to
complete your exam. No other preparation is required.
Infant Hip Ultrasound
Infant hip ultrasound involves scanning of
the pelvic bone and is most frequently
performed on infant children under 6 months of age
to evaluate hip dysplasia.
The examination is performed by a radiologist,
who
is assisted by a sonographer.
The radiologist scans the baby's hip socket
while rotating the infant's leg. Total
scanning time is approximately 15 minutes.
No preparation is required for an infant
hip ultrasound.
Parents are reminded to carry out any
soiled diapers, as health department
regulations require.
Pelvic/Transvaginal
Ultrasound
Also called: pelvic or endovaginal
ultrasound
Pelvic ultrasound, primarily
performed on females, is most
frequently used for evaluation of
pelvic
pain, abnormal vaginal bleeding,
inflammatory disease, or detection
of a mass. Pelvic ultrasound
may help
explain findings
from a manual examination and
provide
additional information. Pelvic
ultrasound examination will
generally result in
good depiction of the bladder,
uterus,
and ovaries.
In some patients, transvaginal
ultrasound, may be necessary
to provide a complete
analysis of the ovaries and
uterine
endometrial lining. Transvaginal
ultrasound involves the insertion
of a small transducer
(probe)
into the vagina. Early pregnancy
or body habitus (obesity)
can obscure adequate evaluation
of some structures. The decision
to use
transvaginal ultrasound
is determined by the radiologist
following pelvic ultrasound.
Pelvic ultrasound generally
requires a full bladder
and is performed with the patient lying
flat
on
a padded table. Transvaginal
ultrasound testing requires
the patient to empty
their
bladder
in the restroom and return
to
the scanning room for the
examination. Patients are
asked disrobe from the waist
down and lie
down with hips elevated
by folded towels or a foam pad.
Patients
usually insert the probe
themselves, but
can be assisted.
How to prepare for a Pelvic
Ultrasound
Arrive 15 minutes prior
to your scheduled appointment
time to register for
your test.
The length of time
needed to complete
this examination will vary depending
on
the information needed.
Plan for up to 30
minutes to complete
your
exam.
Please follow preparation
instructions carefully
to avoid delay
or rescheduling of your
examination.
- A full bladder
is essential
for adequate visualization
of the pelvic
region.
- Finish drinking
four 8-ounce
glasses
(32 ounces total) of
water one
hour prior
to your
appointment. It is
important
to only drink
water. Do not substitute
other beverages.
- Do not
empty
your bladder prior to
the exam.
A full
bladder
is important
for
this
exam.
- Eat as
you
normally would before
and
after the examination
and
return to your
usual
or
recommended activities
after
the
exam.
Renal (Kidney) Ultrasound
Renal ultrasound is frequently used in the evaluation of renal
dysfunction, urinary tract infection, hematuria (blood in the
urine), or to evaluate flank for kidney stones. Renal vascular ultrasound
(also
called renal artery duplex) can be more helpful in the evaluation
of high blood pressure.
Renal ultrasound involves scanning along the flank by the sonographer.
The bladder is also evaluated by scanning the lower pelvis.
How to prepare for a Renal (Kidney) Ultrasound
Finish drinking two eight-ounce
glasses of water (16 ounces total) one hour prior to your appointment time.
Do not
empty your bladder prior to the exam.
To avoid delay or rescheduling of your kidney ultrasound
examination, follow preparation instructions carefully.
Arrive 15 minutes
prior to your scheduled appointment time to register
for your test. Plan for about 30
minutes to complete your exam.
Testicular Ultrasound
Testicular ultrasound is generally used to evaluate scrotal
pain, mass or swelling. Ultrasound techniques provide
information concerning testicular blood flow.
Patients are asked to disrobe from the waist down.
The patient will be covered with a sheet except
during scanning. Folded towels are placed to cover the penis and
lift
the scrotum.
Scanning is generally
performed
by the songrapher using gel and a small transducer.
The radiologist
may also examine the patient. Testicular ultrasounds
take
approximately 30 minutes
to complete.
Testicular ultrasound does not require any preparation
prior to exam.
Thyroid Ultrasound
Thyroid ultrasound is used to evaluate the thyroid
gland. It may also be helpful in evaluating
abnormal thyroid function blood tests or in
the setting of symptoms which suggest thyroid
disease.
Thyroid ultrasound requires a patient to
lie on their back with a pillow under the
shoulders and the neck
is extended. The sonographer scans the
neck. Patients are asked to
limit
conversation as
the vibration
of talking
can blur images.
Thyroid ultrasound does not require any
preparation prior to exam. It is recommended
that patients
wear an open collared shirt (not a turtleneck)
to their appointment and remove any necklaces.
Arrive 10 minutes prior to your scheduled
appointment time to register for your
test. Thyroid ultrasound
examinations take about 30 minutes to complete.
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