Ultrasound
Ultrasound is a painless and safe way to assess internal body structures.
It uses sound waves we cannot hear to take images of internal body structures.
It can assess almost any non-bone structure in the body.
When ultrasound examination is done, a probe touches your skin where gel has been placed. You feel nothing.
The entire process takes 10-30 minutes.
Some reasons we get ultrasound are:
- To assess the health of your baby when you are pregnant
- To assess ligaments and muscles when your shoulder, wrist, knee, or ankle pain.
- To assess why you have abdominal pain (“stomach pain”)
- To see if the lump in your breast is a cyst
- To see if there is a lump in your thyroid gland
The preparation for an ultrasound examination depends on the area of the body being imaged:
- Abdominal Ultrasound
- Pelvic Ultrasound
- Abdominal & Pelvic ultrasound
- Transvaginal ultrasound
- Obstetrical
- Trans rectal
- Thyroid ultrasound
- Breast
- Musculoskeletal ultrasound
- Procedure: Abdominal Ultrasound
- Study Length: 45 Minutes
- Instructions: Nothing to eat or drink for 6 hours before the exam, except for sip of water with medications.
- What to expect: Ultrasound of the abdomen ('Stomach' above the hip level) is performed with gel and a probe. Some pressure may be applied.
- Procedure: Pelvic Ultrasound
- Study Length: 30 minutes
- Instructions: A full bladder is necessary. Finish drinking 1 litre (40 oz) of clear fluid 1 hour before the exam. Do not empty your bladder.
- What to expect: Ultrasound of the abdomen (‘stomach’ above the hip level) is performed with gel and a probe. Some pressure may be applied.
- Procedure: Abdominal & Pelvic ultrasound
- Study Length: 75 minutes
- Instructions: Nothing to eat or drink 6 hours before the exam except for sip of water with medications. A full bladder is necessary. Finish drinking 1 litre (40 oz) of clear fluid 1 hour before the exam. Do not empty your bladder.
- What to expect: Ultrasound of the abdomen (‘stomach’ above the hip level) is performed with gel and a probe. Some pressure may be applied.
- Procedure: Transvaginal ultrasound
- Study Length: 15 minutes
- Instructions: Usually completed with a pelvic ultrasound. Written consent is required
- What to expect: A covered and lubricated probe is placed in the vagina.
- Procedure: Obstetrical
- Study Length: 75 minutes
- Instructions: A full bladder is necessary. Finish drinking 1 litre (40 oz) of clear fluid 1 hour before the exam. Do not empty your bladder.
- What to expect: Ultrasound of the abdomen (‘stomach’ above the hip level) is performed with gel and a probe. Some pressure may be applied.
- Procedure: Trans rectal
- Study Length: 45 minutes
- Instructions: An enema is required 1 to 4 hours before the test. Get instructions from the pharmacist. Written consent is required.
- What to expect: A covered and lubricated probe is placed in the rectum. There may be pressure or a feeling of fullness.
- Procedure: Thyroid ultrasound
- Study Length: 30 minutes
- Instructions: No restrictions
- What to expect: Ultrasound of the thyroid gland (neck) is performed with gel and a probe.
- Procedure: Breast
- Study Length: 45 minutes
- Instructions: No restrictions. Written consent is required.
- What to expect: Ultrasound of the breast is performed with gel and a probe. Some pressure may be applied.
- Procedure: Musculoskeletal ultrasound
- Study Length: 30 minutes
- Instructions: No restrictions
- What to expect: Ultrasound of the joint or soft tissue is performed with a gel and a probe.