Different uses of ultrasound scans Medical issues and ultrasound scans Ultrasound procedure Immediately after an ultrasound scan Taking care of yourself at home after an ultrasound scan Long-term outlook after an ultrasound scan Other types of scans Where to get help.
Different uses of ultrasound scans Doctors commonly use ultrasound for procedures such as: abdominal scans — may be used to investigate abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, abnormal sounds and lumps. Structures to be examined may include the gallbladder, bile ducts, liver, pancreas, spleen, kidneys and large blood vessels. A special type of ultrasound scan, called a Doppler ultrasound, is used to detect the speed and direction of blood flow in certain regions of the body, for example, neck arteries and leg veins.
Medical issues and ultrasound scans Some ultrasound examinations require special preparation beforehand, such as: You may be asked not to eat for a few hours before an upper abdominal scan. Some pelvic examinations require you to have a full bladder before the scan.
Ultrasound procedure If you are having an upper abdomen ultrasound, you will need to lie down on an examination table or bed. Immediately after an ultrasound scan An ultrasound scan usually takes around 20 to 40 minutes, depending on the type of examination. Long-term outlook after an ultrasound scan Treatment — if any — depends on the reason for your scan. Where to get help Your GP doctor Any ultrasound or medical imaging department. Give feedback about this page.
Was this page helpful? Yes No. View all medical tests. A small handheld probe is placed on your skin and moved over the part of your body being examined. A lubricating gel is put on your skin to allow the probe to move smoothly. This also ensures there's continuous contact between the probe and the skin. You shouldn't feel anything other than the sensor and gel on your skin which is often cold. If you're having a scan of your womb or pelvic area, you may have a full bladder that causes you a little discomfort.
There will be a toilet nearby to empty your bladder once the scan is complete. An internal examination allows a doctor to look more closely inside the body at organs such as the prostate gland, ovaries or womb.
A "transvaginal" ultrasound means "through the vagina". During the procedure, you'll be asked to either lie on your back, or on your side with your knees drawn up towards your chest. A small ultrasound probe with a sterile cover, not much wider than a finger, is then gently passed into the vagina or rectum and images are transmitted to a monitor. Internal examinations may cause some discomfort, but don't usually cause any pain and shouldn't take very long. During an endoscopic ultrasound scan, an endoscope is inserted into your body, usually through your mouth, to examine areas such as your stomach or food pipe oesophagus.
You'll usually be asked to lie on your side as the endoscope is carefully pushed down towards your stomach. This type of X-ray can be used to diagnose many conditions. Learn more here. The part of your body getting scanned and the number of images needed play a role in determining how long the MRI will take. Here's what to expect. While bloodletting may sound like an ancient clinical treatment, it is still used in some — albeit rare and more medically sound — circumstances today.
Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Purpose Preparation Procedure Follow-up What is an ultrasound? Why an ultrasound is performed. How to prepare for an ultrasound. How an ultrasound is performed. After an ultrasound. Read this next.
Abdominal Ultrasound. Medically reviewed by Shuvani Sanyal, MD. Sonogram vs. Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. What Is a Transvaginal Ultrasound? Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M. They may also save short video loops of the images. Doppler ultrasound, a special ultrasound technique, measures the direction and speed of blood cells as they move through vessels.
The movement of blood cells causes a change in pitch of the reflected sound waves called the Doppler effect. A computer collects and processes the sounds and creates graphs or color pictures that represent the flow of blood through the blood vessels.
For most ultrasound exams, you will lie face-up on an exam table that can be tilted or moved. Patients may turn to either side to improve the quality of the images. The radiologist a doctor specifically trained to supervise and interpret radiology exams or sonographer will position you on the exam table. They will apply a water-based gel to the area of the body under examination.
The gel will help the transducer make secure contact with the body. It also eliminates air pockets between the transducer and the skin that can block the sound waves from passing into your body.
The sonographer places the transducer on the body and moves it back and forth over the area of interest until it captures the desired images.
There is usually no discomfort from pressure as they press the transducer against the area being examined. However, if the area is tender, you may feel pressure or minor pain from the transducer. Very rarely, young children may need sedation to hold still for the procedure.
Parents should ask about this beforehand and be made aware of prior food and drink restrictions that sedation requires. Once the imaging is complete, the technologist will wipe off the clear ultrasound gel from your skin.
Any portions that remain will dry quickly. The ultrasound gel does not usually stain or discolor clothing. In some ultrasound exams, the doctor attaches a probe to the transducer and inserts into a body cavity.
These exams include:. If the doctor performs a Doppler ultrasound exam, you may hear pulse-like sounds that change in pitch as they monitor and measure the blood flow.
When the exam is complete, the technologist may ask you to dress and wait while the doctor reviews the ultrasound images. A radiologist, a doctor trained to supervise and interpret radiology exams, will analyze the images. The radiologist will send a signed report to the doctor who requested the exam. Your doctor will then share the results with you. In some cases, the radiologist may discuss results with you after the exam. You may need a follow-up exam.
If so, your doctor will explain why. Sometimes a follow-up exam further evaluates a potential issue with more views or a special imaging technique. It may also see if there has been any change in an issue over time. Follow-up exams are often the best way to see if treatment is working or if a problem needs attention.
Ultrasound waves are disrupted by air or gas. Therefore, ultrasound is not an ideal imaging technique for the air-filled bowel or organs obscured by the bowel. Ultrasound is not as useful for imaging air-filled lungs, but it may be used to detect fluid around or within the lungs.
Similarly, ultrasound cannot penetrate bone, but may be used for imaging bone fractures or for infection surrounding a bone.
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