Ultrasound is the examination of the internal organs using high-frequency sound waves. If a Doppler ultrasound is performed, the doctor is able to see blood flow in major blood vessels.
Ultrasounds produce real-time images of soft tissue and can capture movement of internal organs. Therefore, it is used to visualize and diagnose problems inside the abdominal cavity.
A diagnostic ultrasound is most often performed for the following reasons:
To diagnose an injury or disease of the liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, or organs inside the abdomen
To help determine the cause of abdominal pain
To identify gallbladder or kidney stones
To assess for tumors, cysts, abscesses, or other masses in the abdominal organs
To help determine why an internal organ is enlarged
To examine a pregnant uterus and the fetus within
To evaluate the aorta for the presence of an aneurysm
To assess a spleen injury
To evaluate liver disease or pancreatitis
To locate a foreign object in the abdomen, such as a bullet
To identify abdominal/uterine bleeding
To examine enlarged thyroid/goiter
To determine cause of abnormal lab values
An ultrasound is not invasive and not painful. An ultrasound can take 30-60 minutes.
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