Ultrasound

Ultrasound examination, also called sonography, is an imaging method that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of structures within your body. These images often provide information that's valuable in evaluating fetal development, organ function, additional breast testing, vascular flow and cardiac systems in order to diagnose and treat disease. Diagnostic ultrasound is a safe procedure that uses low-power sound waves. There is no ionizing radiation exposure with this test.

When an ultrasound is performed, a clear gel that is warmed for comfort, is applied to the skin over the area being examined to help with the transmission of the sound waves. A hand-held probe, called a transducer, is then moved over the area being examined. Patients may be asked to change position so that other areas can be examined.

Though the majority of ultrasound exams are performed with a transducer on your skin, some ultrasounds are done inside your body. For these exams, the transducer is attached to a probe that's inserted into a natural opening in your body. Examples of these exams include transesophageal echocardiogram (the transducer is inserted into your esophagus to obtain images of the heart), transrectal ultrasound (the transducer is inserted into a man's rectum to view the prostate), and transvaginal ultrasound(the transducer is inserted into a woman's vagina to view the uterus and ovaries).