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What is an ultrasound scan?
Ultrasound is a very safe and well tolerated procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of part of the inside of the body. It is used to detect changes in the look, size or outline of organs, tissues and vessels, or to detect abnormal masses. It is a painless examination with no known harmful effects to humans.
What preparation is required for an ultrasound scan?
Before having some types of ultrasound scan, you may be asked to follow
certain instructions to help improve the quality of the images produced.
You will probably be asked to prepare for your scan by either fasting or
attending with a full bladder (depending on the examination) and to wear loose fitting clothing.
This information will be provided in your appointment letter and you can find the preparation required below.
What do we need to know before the scan?
If you are having an internal scan and are allergic to latex, it is important to inform our ultrasound team. In these cases, the team will use a latex-free probe cover.
What happens at the appointment and during an ultrasound scan?
Ultrasound examinations are usually painless and easily tolerated by most patients.
Most types of ultrasound examinations are completed within 15 to 30 minutes and
are performed by either a Radiologist or a Sonographer.
When you arrive at our clinic for your appointment, our
Sonographer/Radiologist and the Diagnostic Imaging Assistant
will provide you with a full briefing on what will happen during your appointment.
In most cases, you will lie on a medical couch and the Sonographer will apply a water-based
gel on the area to be scanned and then pass a small handheld probe over the skin and over
the part of the body being examined. For some pelvic female examinations, an internal
scan (vaginal scan) may also be suggested.
A chaperone is available for all intimate scans.
After the ultrasound scan
After the ultrasound scan has been completed, the images will be reviewed by the sonographer/radiologist who
performed the scan and a report will be produced and sent to your doctor, usually within 24-48 hours.
There are no restrictions on normal activity.
You can eat and drink normally, drive and return to
work immediately after the scan.
Follow-up examinations may be necessary and recommendations
may be included in your report. Sometimes a follow-up exam is
performed because a suspicious or questionable finding
needs clarification with additional views or a special imaging technique.
A follow-up examination may also be necessary so that any change in a
known abnormality can be monitored over time. Follow-up examinations
are sometimes the best way to see if treatment is working or if an
abnormality is stable over time. The report will be sent to your doctor.
Ultrasound FAQs
The ultrasound scan takes 15 to 30 minutes during which time you may be asked to change position to allow the area to be examined from different angles.
Ultrasound scans are a simple examination; they are non-invasive and are not painful. There may be varying degrees of discomfort from pressure as the transducer is pressed against the area being examined.
For standard diagnostic ultrasound there are no known harmful effects on humans.
The ultrasound scanner consists of a console (computer), a video display screen and a transducer (probe) that is used to scan the body.
The ultrasound scan report will be sent to your GP or referring clinician usually within 24-48 hours of the examination.