Ultrasound
What is an Ultrasound?
Ultrasound is a diagnostic imaging modality that uses sound waves at a high frequency to capture images from within your body. Ultrasound mainly focuses on the body's soft tissue areas, and it is a painless examination.
A sonographer is a medical professional who performs the scans, and a radiologist is a doctor who specialises in reporting the scan findings.
Ultrasound can also be used as a guide during biopsy and drainage procedures.
What do I need before the scan?
You need a doctor's referral letter to book a scan. Most scans take between 15 and 30 minutes.
Some ultrasound examinations require no preparation, and some do. You will be informed of the preparation requirements when you make your booking.
For early pregnancy pelvic and kidney scans, your bladder needs to be fully distended to view your pelvic organs optimally.
For scans of your abdomen, such as the gallbladder, it is essential you do not eat or drink anything for six hours beforehand (water is permitted)
Be sure to arrive at least 15 min before your appointment time.
What happens during the examination?
On arrival, the receptionist will ask for your referral letter from your doctor.
You will be called by a sonographer assistant to prepare you for the examination. You will be asked to change into a gown if needed.
A water-based gel is applied on your skin over the area to be examined. The sonographer uses a transducer over the gel to scan and acquire images as required.
What happens after the procedure?
After the scan, you may resume normal activities. You will be given a copy of your images, and a detailed report will be sent to your referring doctor, who will discuss it with you.