Ultrasound based diagnostic imaging techniques are used to visualize muscles and internal organs (including the heart, blood vessels, uterus & bladder), their size, structures and possible pathologies or lesions as well as blood flow through blood vessels. Obstetric Ultrasound is commonly used during pregnancy to assess fetal well being, determine fetal position, verify diagnosis of multiple gestational sacs (twins etc) and rule out ectopic pregnancy. Ultrasound provides information for your physician about the specific soft tissue structure being examined, or about the blood flow in vessels within the soft tissues. Soft tissue structures include a mass in or around a joint, or in a muscle or within your abdomen or pelvis.

The following parts of the body can be imaged using Ultrasound:

• Abdomen: liver, gall bladder, pancreas, spleen major blood vessels.
• Pelvic: reproductive organs, appendix, bladder.
• Obstetrics: rregnancies 1st trimester.
• Superficial structures: thyroid, breast, scrotum.
• Extremities (musculoskeletal): tendons and muscles (shoulder, elbow, knee, ankle, wrist).

Ultrasound uses non-ionizing radiation and is extremely safe. No x-rays are used and there are no known harmful effects or complications.

A completed referral form (requisition) signed by your physician is required to book an appointment for ultrasound. Please bring your requisition and health insurance card with you on the day of your appointment.

You will be asked to change into a patient gown prior to your exam. Ultrasound imaging is painless easy and relatively fast. The part of your body being scanned depends on the exam requested by your physician. You will be asked to lie on an exam table and the technologist (sonographer) will spread a lubricant gel on your skin and then press a hand held transducer firmly against your skin on the areas of the requested exam.  The gel helps the transducer,(the device that sends sound waves into your body) to make secure contact with your skin and eliminate any air pockets. The transducer is moved back and forth until the desired images are acquired. You will be asked to hold your breath for brief periods of time so that high quality motion free images can be obtained. You may feel some be slight discomfort from pressure as the sonographer guides the transducer over your abdomen, especially if you are required to have a full bladder. The examination takes an average of 30 minutes and you will be able to immediately resume your pre-examination activities.

The results of the ultrasound examination are determined by both the real time (observed during the examination) and the final static images produced. After the examination, this information is reviewed by a radiologist in order to generate a written report for your referring doctor.