Ultrasound

Ultrasound is the use of sound waves to obtain a medical image or picture of various organs and tissues in the body. It is a painless and safe procedure.

Ultrasound produces very precise images of your soft tissues (heart, blood vessels, uterus, bladder, etc.) and reveals internal motion such as heart beat and blood flow. It can detect diseased or damaged tissues, locate abnormal growths and identify a wide variety of changing conditions, which enables your doctor to make a quick and accurate diagnosis.

What Will the Exam Be Like?

The individual that will be performing the ultrasound study on you is known as a sonographer. This technologist is highly skilled and educated and works under close supervision with the radiologist. The radiologist is a physician who specializes in the study of various imaged tests such as x-ray, ultrasound, mammography, CT, MRI, and Nuclear Medicine.

The technologist will assist you on to the examination table. At this time, an oil or transmision gel will be applied to the area of your body that will be examined. A transducer will be moved slowly over the body part being imaged. The transducer sends a signal to an on-board computer which processes the data and produces the ultrasound image. It is from this image that the diagnosis is made.

You won't feel a thing except for the slight pressure and movement of the transducer over the part of the body being imaged. It is important that you remain still and relaxed during the procedure. The ultrasound images will appear on a monitor similar to a TV screen and are recorded either on paper or film for a detailed study.
   
How Long Will the Exam Take?

The exam will probably last from 30 to 60 minutes, depending upon the anatomy under study. You may be required to drink water to enhance the quality of the picture (sound travels better through water) and this could lengthen the time of the exam.
   
Other Uses for Ultrasound

Ultrasound is sometimes used in therpeutic applications for soft tissue injuries. It is also helpful in pre-natal care to determine the age, sex, and growth characteristics of the unborn child.
   
Things to Remember

	Wear comfortable clothing.
	Avoid wearing jewelry.
	Follow all instructions received prior to the examination.
	Avoid soft drinks before the exam. Carbonation develops bubbles that may interfere with the image.
	Be sure to ask any questions relating to your examination. They will help the evaluation.

	Introduction to Diagnostic Testing
	Cardio-Pulmonary Services
	CT Scan
	Mammography
	MRI
	Nuclear Medicine
	Ultrasound