What is ultrasound

• An Ultrasound procedure is a non-invasive (the skin is not pierced) diagnostic procedure used to assess soft tissue structures such as muscles, blood vessels, and organs.
• Ultrasound uses a transducer that sends out ultrasonic sound waves at certain locations and angles, the ultrasonic sound waves move through the skin and other body tissues to the organs and structures within. The sound waves bounce off the organs like an echo and return to the transducer. The transducer picks up the reflected waves, which are then converted by a computer into an electronic picture of the organs or tissues under study; so we can further detect abnormal lesion.
• Abdominal ultrasound is an imaging procedure used to examine the internal organs of the abdomen including the liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, and kidneys.

Procedure

• You will be put in supine position. But in some condition, you may be asked to put in different postion (left oblique) for different examination areas or better lesion detection. A clear, water-based conducting gel is applied to the skin over the area being examined to help with the transmission of the sound wave. The ultrasound transducer (a handheld probe) is then moved over the abdomen. You may also be asked to hold your breath for short periods of time during the examination.
• The procedure usually takes less than 30 minutes.

How to prepare for the test

• Usually do to not eat or drink for several hours before the examination (You may take your other medications as usual)
• There is no documented risk. No ionizing radiation exposure is involved.