Ultrasound is a painless procedure that uses sound waves to produce images of the inside of the body. The sound waves are transmitted through a device called a transducer and then echo off internal organs and tissues.
Ultrasounds are a common and safe imaging technique that can be used to examine organs and structures deep within the body.
During an ultrasound examination, you will lie on your back and move into different positions so that the sound waves can get a better look at different parts of your body.
The ultrasound is done by an experienced radiologist who will use it to look for any abnormalities in your internal organs. The Radiologist will ask you to answer some questions during the exam regarding your clinical details and lab findings.
The most common types of ultrasounds are diagnostic ultrasounds and prenatal ultrasounds. Diagnostic ultrasounds are used to diagnose problems with organs or other parts of the body. Prenatal ultrasounds are used to see your baby before birth. Ultrasounds are used to diagnose many different conditions, including heart disease, kidney stones, and abdominal pain.
Ultrasounds can be done for many reasons, such as:
- Abdominal Ultrasound: To detect gallstones, kidney stones, or bladder stones.
- Pelvic Ultrasound: To detect ovarian cysts or uterine
- Breast ultrasound– to detect any breast cyst/ fibroadenoma / early cancer detection
- Soft tissue lesion ultrasound– To look into any swelling whether it is fluid filled or solid mass lesion.
- Joint ultrasound: to detect any fluid in the joint or any tendon tear
- Pregnancy ultrasound: to see the baby/ fetus
- Brain Ultrasound: To detect brain tumors or other abnormalities in adults and children.
- Biopsies : To detect breast cancer, as well as other conditions such as inflammation, infection, and benign tumors.
What are the Benefits of an ultrasound:
- Painless procedure .
- No exposure to harmful radiation.
- Relatively less expensive when compared to other medical tests.
- Faster procedure taking 15 to 30 minutes.