Ultrasound: Your Safe and Effective Choice of Imaging

Ultrasound is an imaging test that is non-invasive, needleless, pain-free, and completely safe. It allows visualisation of the internal soft body organs using high-frequency sound waves.

Preparations

It’s fuss-free!

• For abdominal/liver ultrasounds: you must fast for at least 4 hours before your ultrasound appointment.
• For pelvic ultrasounds: drink 100-200ml of fluid 1 hour before your appointment for a full bladder prior scan.

No preparations are required for other types of ultrasounds.

Procedure

On the day of the ultrasound, you will be guided to a procedure room with the ultrasound machine and transducer/probe. You are advised to lie down (on your back) on an examination bed.

The ultrasound sonographer will apply a gel over your skin on the body area that is to be tested. The sonographer will then hold the ultrasound probe over the gel to obtain images of your body part. Sometimes, the sonographer will ask you to hold your breath or stay still for a few seconds to obtain accurate images for the scan. At the end of the ultrasound test, your sonographer will clean off the gel over your skin, and you should be done. 

Expected duration of procedure

20-30 minutes in general

In more complex situations, your sonographer may spend longer to obtain relevant images of your ultrasound.

Types of ultrasounds

There are various types of ultrasounds. As they are all safe, one can discuss with your doctor on more test(s) that are relevant to address your concerns.

• Breasts ultrasound: 

Benefits: this allows viewing of the breasts for soft cysts and nodules and screening of breast tumours.

Suitable for: breast pain, breast lumps, breast tumour/cancer risk screening

• Abdomen ultrasound: 

Benefits: useful if a person has concerns about the liver, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, or gallbladder or is experiencing abdominal symptoms over the mid-belly region. 

Suitable for: abdominal pain, bloatedness, indigestion, liver pain, part of health screening

• Kidneys (renal) ultrasound: 

Benefits: useful to screen for kidney cysts, lumps, and infections. Occasionally, your doctor may offer a further extension of ultrasound to cover the structure of the bladder and connecting tubes such as the ureters.

Suitable for: blood in the urine, abnormal urinary symptoms, recurring urine infection, kidney stones/growth.

• Pelvic ultrasound: 

Benefits: this is useful to visualise a woman's uterus, ovaries, and surrounding pelvic structure.

Suitable for: pelvic discomfort or pain, menstrual disorders, gynaecological concerns

• Prostate ultrasound: 

Benefits: this is beneficial to visualise the structure and size of a man’s prostate and screen for prostate tumours.

Suitable for: abnormal urinary symptoms, recurring urine infection, poor urine flow, dribbling, and blood in the urine

• Thyroid ultrasound: 

Benefits: this is useful to assess the endocrine gland over the neck and screen for cysts or nodules that may be present over the neck. 

Suitable for: swelling or lump over the neck, thyroid disorders

• Carotid Doppler ultrasound: 

Benefits: this is useful to screen for the main blood vessels in the body- over the neck or the deep veins of the legs to look for clots and narrowing. 

Suitable for: cardiovascular risk, abnormal cholesterol blood tests, neurological symptoms 

• Deep veins Doppler ultrasound

Benefits: this is useful to screen for clots that may occur over the lower legs/calf region.

Suitable for: lower calf pain, swelling, redness, history of immobility- recent long haul light, surgery, bedridden.

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At Dr Ben Medical, we offer a wide range of ultrasound screening tests, which can be done at your convenience and within the same setting. Do speak to our clinic staff and doctors to understand further.