Ultrasound

What is an ultrasound used for?

Ultrasounds are very low risk because they don’t involve radiation exposure. There aren’t any known risks from the high-frequency sound waves.

Doctors commonly use ultrasound to study a developing fetus (unborn baby), a patient’s abdominal and/or pelvic organs, tendons, muscles, or heart and blood vessels. It’s also used to help to diagnose the following conditions:

• Thyroid conditions
• Enlarged spleen
• Gallstones
• Kidney or bladder stones
• Blood clots
• Aortic aneurysm
• Cysts
• Uterine fibroids
• Abnormal growths, such as tumors or cancer
• Ectopic pregnancy (when a fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus)

This list isn’t limited, as ultrasounds can be used to detect and diagnose various conditions related to the organs and tissues within the body, including the joints and muscles.

What do ultrasounds not pick up?

While ultrasound is very accurate, these scans don’t work on every body part. Scans capture live images of soft tissues that don’t appear on other imaging tests like X-rays.

Sound waves don't transmit well through dense bone or air, so they are ineffective at imaging body parts that hold gas (like the bowel) or those hidden by bone (such as the head).

In these cases, your doctor may request another form of imaging, like a CT scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or another type of testing.

Elevate Health Group recognizes that there isn’t just one type of scan that can be used to detect all health conditions or diseases, which is why they offer multiple imaging technologies and comprehensive blood tests to carry out health assessments. 

This approach ensures that patients receive the gold standard when assessing the body's organs and detecting diseases at their earliest stage.

Is an ultrasound painful?

External and internal ultrasound scans don't have any side effects. They are generally painless, although you may experience discomfort as the probe is pressed over your skin or inserted into your body.

Ultrasounds are noninvasive, meaning they don’t use injections or needles or create incisions. No known risks or side effects are associated with this type of test.

Call the office or schedule an appointment online today to take advantage of the ultrasound and other imaging services offered at Elevate Health Group.