Overview

Diagnostic ultrasound, also called sonography or diagnostic medical sonography, is an imaging method that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of structures within your body. The images can provide valuable information for diagnosing and treating a variety of diseases and conditions. Ultrasound examinations are done using an ultrasound device outside your body, though some involve placing a probe inside your body. Ultrasounds come with several benefits:

• They’re typically painless and require no needles, injections, or incisions
• Patients aren’t exposed to any radiation, making the procedure safer than X-rays or CT scans. There are no known harmful effects of ultrasounds when they’re performed properly.
• Ultrasounds can capture soft tissue images that don’t show up well on X-rays.
• Ultrasounds are widely accessible and generally less expensive than other diagnostic methods.

Ultrasound Preparation

Abdominal Ultrasound Studies: 

• No food or drink for 6-8 hours prior to your exam
  • Limited amounts of food and water are permitted for diabetic patients or to swallow medication
• Please continue taking your prescription medications 

Renal Ultrasound Studies:

• No food for 4-6 hours prior to your exam
• Please drink 16 ounces (2 cups) of water 30 minutes prior to your appointment 

Pelvic Ultrasound Studies:

• No dietary restrictions
• Please drink 16 ounces (2 cups) of water 1 hour prior to your appointment
• Please do not empty your bladder once you  begin drinking water

Soft Tissue Ultrasound Studies: 

• Please wear loose clothing that allows easy access to the area being scanned

No Preparation Required:

• Extremity Ultrasound
• Carotid Doppler
• Ultrasound Thyroid Ultrasound  
• Breast Ultrasound
• Scrotum or Testes Ultrasound

Ultrasound Study Types & Indications

• Abdominal Ultrasound Studies may indicate blood clots, fluid in the abdominal cavity, gallstones, hernias, pancreatitis, kidney blockage or cancer, liver cancer, and appendicitis.
• Cardiac Ultrasound Studies
  (Echocardiogram) may  indicate changes in your heart size, vascular strength, damage to the heart muscle, valve problems, and heart defects
• Vascular Ultrasound Studies may indicate deep venous thrombosis
  (DVT), chronic venous insufficiency, or leaky valves in the veins.
• Thoracic Ultrasound Studies may indicate chest wall abnormalities, pleural effusion, rib fractures, or chest trauma.
• Pelvic Ultrasound Studies may indicate PCOS, ruptured ectopic pregnancy, ovarian cancer, PID, fibroids, and endometrial hyperplasia.
• Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Studies may indicate joint effusion, ligament tears, abscesses and cysts, rheumatoid arthritis, and fractures.
• Aortic Ultrasound Studies may indicate aneurysms, hypertension, and abdominal and back pain.
• Carotid Ultrasound Studies may indicate atherosclerosis, recent stroke, dizziness, vertigo, motor or sensory deficit, and aphasia/dysphasia.
• Renal Ultrasound Studies may indicate abnormal renal function, hematuria, kidney stones, urinary tract constructions, and dilated upper urinary tract.   
• Neck & Thyroid Ultrasound Studies may indicate hypothyroidism, acute thyroiditis, thyroid and neck mass, and difficulty swallowing.
• Scrotal & Testicular Ultrasound Studies may indicate a scrotal mass, orchitis, spermatocele, torsion, varicocele, scrotal pain, and infertility.
• Transvaginal Ultrasound Studies may indicate pelvic pain or intermenstrual vaginal bleeding, post-menopausal bleeding, presence of polyps or fibroids, ovarian cysts or tumors, and ovarian cancer.
• Breast Ultrasound Studies may indicate breast pain, nipple discharge, and nonpalpable abnormalities.