Your doctor may request an ultrasound for various reasons, from tracking the development of an unborn child to diagnosing certain medical conditions. To get detailed images of organs and structures inside your body that other imaging tests cannot capture, check Silver Spring ultrasound.
Types of ultrasound
These are some of the ultrasounds you should know:
- Abdominal ultrasound examines the organs inside your abdomens, such as the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, and kidneys. It can also assess blood flow through major arteries and veins in that area.
- Pelvic ultrasound: Your pelvic ultrasound is used to evaluate your reproductive organs and assess the cause of abnormal bleeding, infertility, or other pelvic conditions.
- Breast ultrasound: This ultrasound can detect lumps or changes in the breasts that are not visible on a mammogram.
- Vascular ultrasound: This type of ultrasound is used to evaluate blood flow throughout the body, from the heart to major arteries and veins.
- Fetal ultrasound: This type of ultrasound is used during pregnancy to monitor your baby’s development and detect any abnormalities in its growth or development.
By having an ultrasound, your doctor can better understand any underlying medical conditions you may have and provide more targeted treatment. You can also rest assured knowing that ultrasound is a safe and painless procedure, so you can relax while being examined.
Ultimately, an ultrasound enables your doctor to diagnose better and treat any medical conditions that may be present, ensuring you receive the most effective care possible.
What happens during the ultrasound procedure?
Below is a detailed explanation of what happens during an ultrasound procedure:
- You will be asked to lie on your back with your arms at your side or above your head.
- The technician will spread a warm gel on your skin and move the device, called a transducer, over the examined area.
- When sound waves from the transducer strike body tissue or organs, they produce echoes.
- These echoes are picked up by the transducer and turned into images of what is inside your body.
- The ultrasound images are then sent to a monitor for viewing.
Here are a few typical explanations for why your doctor might recommend an ultrasound:
To monitor the development of an unborn baby
Any pregnant woman will likely get at least one ultrasound during her pregnancy. An ultrasound is used to track the baby’s development, determine the baby’s gender and verify that the baby is growing healthy and normal. You can also undergo an ultrasound to check for congenital disabilities or other abnormalities in the baby.
To diagnose certain medical conditions
Your doctor can use an ultrasound to assess various organs and structures inside your body, such as your heart, kidneys, gallbladder, liver, and pancreas. This can help them diagnose problems such as abnormal growths, cysts, tumors, blockages, infections,s or inflammation.
To guide a medical procedure
Ultrasound images can help doctors guide needle biopsies and other procedures that involve inserting instruments into the body. This allows them accurately navigate to the right area and ensure they don’t cause any damage to healthy tissue.
To assess blood flow
Ultrasound can also detect the blockage of blood vessels, which can help diagnose and treat cardiovascular diseases. Any blocked or reduced blood flow can be identified and treated quickly.
Talk to your doctor at Capital Women’s Care if you have any questions or concerns about your upcoming ultrasound.