ULTRASOUND
ULTRASOUND
An ultrasound scan is a painless test which uses sound waves to make an image of a person’s internal body structures.
An ultrasound scan is usually non-invasive (done from outside the body). some scans are done with a special probe that is inserted into the person’s vagina (Transvaginal scan -TVS for some obstetric or pelvic examinations), rectum (TRUS-trans rectal ultrasound scans for prostate examination).
Ultrasound scan can also be used to monitor and guide invasive procedures like a biopsy of a organs like breast, lymph nodes or thyroid gland.
Different uses of ultrasound scans
- Abdominal scan –used to investigate abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and lumps. Structures examined include the gallbladder, bile ducts, liver, pancreas, spleen, kidneys and large blood vessels.
- Pelvic scans – For women having pelvic pain or having abnormal periods, fibroids, cysts or other conditions associated with the female reproductive system
- Pregnancy scans – used to check for fetal abnormalities , to check the position of a fetus, and monitor fetal growth and development.
- other uses – musculoskeletal scans (to check regions like a shoulder or elbow), breast scans (for example, to further investigate an abnormality picked up by physical examination or mammogram
- A special type of ultrasound scan, called a Doppler ultrasound, is used to detect the speed and direction of blood flow, for example, neck arteries, upper and lower limb arteries and leg veins.