Ultrasound imaging, also called ultrasound scanning or sonography, involves exposing part of the body to high-frequency sound waves to produce pictures of the internal body. Ultrasound exams do not use ionizing radiation (x-ray). 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 imaging is usually a painless medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions.

Conventional ultrasound displays the images in thin, flat sections of the body. Advancements in ultrasound technology include three-dimensional (3-D) ultrasound that formats the sound wave data into 3-D images. Four-dimensional (4-D) ultrasound is 3-D ultrasound in motion.

What are some common uses of the procedure?

Ultrasound examinations can help diagnose a variety of conditions and assess organ damage following illness.

Ultrasound is used to help physicians diagnose symptoms such as:
• pain
• swelling
• infection

Ultrasound is a useful way of examining many of the body’s internal organs, including but not limited to:
• heart and blood vessels, including the abdominal aorta and its major branches
• liver
• gallbladder
• spleen
• pancreas
• kidneys
• bladder
• uterus, ovaries, and unborn child (fetus) in pregnant patients
• eyes
• thyroid and parathyroid glands
• scrotum (testicles)

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.
• get images of the breasts and to guide biopsy of breast cancer
• 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.

How should I prepare for the procedure?

You should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing for your ultrasound exam. 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.

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