ultrasound

What is Ultrasound ?

An X-ray is a quick, painless test that produces images of the structures inside your body — particularly your bones.

An ultrasound scan is a medical test that uses a transducer or probe to generate high-frequency sound waves and produce pictures of the body's internal structures. It does not use ionizing radiation, has no known harmful effects, and provides a clear picture of soft tissues that don't show up well on x-ray images. The images recorded through this procedure can provide accurate information to help diagnose and direct the treatment for a wide range of health conditions and diseases.

There are two main categories of ultrasounds:

• Pregnancy ultrasound is used to look at an unborn baby. The test can provide information about a baby’s growth, development, and overall health.
• Diagnostic ultrasound is used to view and provide information about other internal parts of the body. These include the heart, blood vessels, liver, bladder, kidneys, and female reproductive organs

Why Ultrasound is required ?

• To diagnose a symptom in certain tissues or organs which includes the heart, kidney, and also the female reproductive system.
• Ultrasound can act as a guide for a biopsy to confirm where the sample is to be taken from.
• To diagnose gallbladder disease
• To evaluate abdominal pain and diagnose abdominal symptoms such as injuries or appendicitis
• During pregnancy it may be used to view the uterus and ovaries and monitor the developing baby's health
• In women, diagnostic ultrasound may be used to look at breast lump to see if it might be cancer, help find the cause of pelvic pain, help find the cause of abnormal menstrual bleeding, help diagnose infertility or monitor infertility treatments
• In men it may be used to diagnose disorders of the prostate gland

What are the benefits of Ultrasound?

• It is non-invasive and painless.
• There is no use of ionizing radiation, which is used in X-rays and CT scans, and is potentially harmful if done repeatedly.
• It is dynamic with images captured in real-time showing the motion of tendons, muscles and joints.
• It shows soft tissues very well, whereas X-rays do not.

What are the types of Ultrasound ?

• Pregnancy- A pregnancy ultrasound is an imaging test that uses sound waves to create a picture of how a baby is developing in the womb
  1. Ultrasound Level 1: 1st Trimester.
  2. Ultrasound Level 2/ Anomaly / Tiffa Scan: 2nd Trimester.
  3. Growth Scan: 3rd Trimester.
  4. Doppler Pregnancy: 3rd Trimester.
  5. Fetal Echo: 3rd Trimester.
  6. A level II ultrasound, also known as a fetal anatomical survey, is recommended for almost all pregnant women. It is similar to a standard ultrasound, except it provides more detailed information. During the level II ultrasound, your doctor will examine your baby's organs, brain, umbilical cord, gender and more.
• Brain (in infants)- Head ultrasound is a routine exam for infants who were born prematurely. The procedure is used to screen for brain conditions associated with prematurity, such as bleeding or brain tissue damage
• Eyes- Measurement of tumours including choroidal melanomas, visualization of the lens - and detection of retinal detachment.
• Bladder- A bladder ultrasound can show how much urine the bladder holds when it's full. It can show if there's anything unusual about the bladder, such as its size, the thickness of the bladder walls, and if there are blockages or kidney stones
• Gallbladder- Ultrasounds are used to diagnose a number of conditions. Your doctor may prescribe the procedure to test for gallstones, which are hardened deposits in bile that can cause nausea and abdominal pain along with back and shoulder pain
• Kidneys- A kidney ultrasound may be used to assess the size, location, and shape of the kidneys and related structures, such as the ureters and bladder. Ultrasound can detect cysts, tumours, abscesses, obstructions, fluid collection, and infection within or around the kidney
• Liver- A liver scan may be done to check for diseases such as liver cancer, hepatitis, or cirrhosis. Lesions such as tumours, abscesses, or cysts of the liver or spleen may be seen on a liver scan.
• Pancreas- Pancreatic ultrasound can be used to assess for pancreatic malignancy, pancreatitis, and its complications, as well as for other pancreatic pathology
• Ovaries- In women, doctors can use pelvic ultrasound to- Find problems with the structure of your uterus or ovaries. Look for cancer in your ovaries, uterus, or bladder.
• Uterus- A pelvic ultrasound may be used to diagnose and assist in the treatment of the following conditions: Abnormalities in the anatomic structure of the uterus, including endometrial conditions. Fibroid tumours (benign growths), masses, cysts, and other types of tumours within the pelvis.
• Testicles- Images from the test will help them detect patterns that might indicate cancer. They can also reveal whether you have a cyst (fluid-filled sac), tumor or torsion. An ultrasound can also be used to diagnose testicular cancer or problems with blood flow in the scrotum
• Spleen- USG of spleen plays an important role in emergency diagnosis of splenic rupture and haemorrhage.
• Thyroid- An ultrasound of the thyroid is typically used: to determine if a lump in the neck is arising from the thyroid or an adjacent structure. to analyse the appearance of thyroid nodules and determine if they are the more common benign nodule or if the nodule has features that require a biopsy
• Blood vessels- Vascular ultrasound uses sound waves to evaluate the body's circulatory system and help identify blockages in the arteries and veins and detect blood clots. A Doppler ultrasound study – a technique that evaluates blood flow through a blood vessel

Preparation of Ultrasound

The preparations will depend on which type of ultrasound the patient is having.

• For ultrasounds of the abdominal area, including pregnancy ultrasounds and ultrasounds of the female reproductive system, the patient may need to fill up her bladder before the test. This involves drinking two to three glasses of water about an hour before the test, and not going to the bathroom.
• For other ultrasounds, the patient may need to adjust his/her diet or fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before the test.
• Some types of ultrasounds require no preparation at all.

Our Centre staff will let the patient know if he/she needs to do anything to prepare for his/her ultrasound.

During & After Ultrasound

The patient will most likely be lying down on a table with a section of their body exposed for the test.

A Radiologist / Sonologist will apply a special lubricating jelly to the patient skin. This prevents friction so they can rub the ultrasound transducer on the patient skin. The transducer has a similar appearance to a microphone. The jelly also helps transmit sound waves.

The transducer sends high-frequency sound waves through the patient body. The waves echo as they hit a dense object, such as an organ or bone. Those echoes are then reflected back into a computer. The sound waves are at too high of a pitch for the human ear to hear. They form a picture that can be interpreted by the doctor.

Depending on the area being examined, the patient may need to change positions so the radiologist / sonologist can have better access.

After the procedure, the gel will be cleaned off the patient skin. The whole procedure typically lasts less than s30 minutes, depending on the area being examined. The patient will be free to go about your normal activities after the procedure has finished.