Ultrasound for patients

Ultrasound or sonography is a procedure that bounces high-frequency sound waves off parts of the body. The reflected echoes are recorded and displayed as a real-time visual image. Because these images are in real time, ultrasound is used for a variety of applications, including examining a moving fetus, capturing pelvic and abdominal function, or studying blood flow through veins and arteries. No ionizing radiation (X-rays) or injections are used in ultrasound imaging which makes this modality an extremely safe and painless diagnostic tool.

Ultrasound can be used to evaluate virtually any part of the body, as long as the sound waves are unimpeded by highly reflective interfaces like bone or gas.

Common applications of ultrasound include:

• neonatal brain (up to 1 year in age/before anterior fontanelle closure) - developmental anomalies, haemorrhage, injury and cyts
• neck thyroid, salivary glands, lymph nodes
• chest heart, pleural effusions
• abdomen hepatobiliary system, kidneys, bowel
• pelvis bladder, prostate, uterus, ovaries
• scrotal testes, epididymes, inguinal hernias
• breast solid nodules, cysts
• peripheral vascular arterial stenosis, deep vein thrombosis
• musculoskeletal rotator cuff tendons, lumps

Scan Shows

Generally no preparation is required except in the evaluation of:

• gallbladder fasting 4-6 hours or omitting the last feed to ensure a non-contracted state
• pelvis a full bladder is required to provide a window for evaluating the prostate, uterus and ovaries