Ultrasound produces pictures of the inside of the body using sound waves. Ultrasound imaging, also called sonography, involves the use of a small transducer and ultrasound gel placed directly on the skin. High-frequency sound waves are transmitted from the probe through the gel into the body. The transducer collects the sounds that bounce back and a computer then uses those sound waves to create an image. Ultrasound exams do not use ionizing radiation, thus there is no radiation exposure to the patient. The procedure may be used to diagnose a variety of conditions, assess organ damage, monitor pregnancy, evaluate pain, swelling and infection, guide procedures like needle biopsies, and much more.
Before the Procedure
You should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing for your ultrasound exam. You may need to remove all clothing and jewelry and wear a gown during the procedure. Preparation for the procedure will depend on the type of exam.
During the Procedure
For most ultrasound exams, you will be positioned lying face-up on an exam table that can be tilted or moved. Patients may be turned to either side or on occasion placed in a face-down position to improve the quality of the images. The radiologist or sonographer will apply a warm water-based gel to the area of the body being studied. The gel will help the transducer make secure contact with the body and eliminate air pockets between the transducer and the skin that can block sound waves from passing into your body. In some ultrasound studies, the transducer is attached to a probe and inserted into a natural opening in the body, like the esophagus, rectum or vagina. Most ultrasounds are completed within 30 minutes, although more extensive exams may take up to an hour.
After the Procedure
When the exam is complete, you will be asked to wait until the technologist verifies that the images are of high enough quality for accurate interpretation. After the images have been interpreted, your radiologist or referring physician will discuss the findings with you. Depending on the results of the ultrasound, additional tests or procedures may be scheduled to gather further diagnostic information.