Ultrasound Scanning Types
Abdominal Ultrasound
What is it?
An abdominal ultrasound scan is the first line of investigation for a variety of diseases and conditions. It is used to examine the internal organs of the abdomen, including the gallbladder, liver, pancreas, kidneys, spleen and abdominal aorta. It can show blood flow both to these organs and in the main blood vessels of the abdomen.
Stomach pain is the most common reason for initiating an abdominal scan. The scan helps your doctor to find the source of many abdominal pains such as gallbladder or kidney stones. It can also be used to indicate more serious diseases such as some forms of cancer.
Aneurysm (ballooning) of the abdominal aorta can be seen readily on abdominal ultrasound. The identification and monitoring of this condition often saves lives. Research studies suggest that a routine ultrasound scan is worthwhile for all men aged 65. This is because most people with an abdominal aortic aneurysm do not have symptoms. Following a routine scan, surgery can be offered to men found to have an aneurysm over 50 mm wide. Follow up scans can be offered to monitor those with smaller aneurysms.
In 2008 the government announced that over the next five years ultrasound scan screening will be rolled out to enable all men aged 65 and over to be screened. It is offered only to men as the condition is much more common in men than in women.
Patients are sometimes referred for abdominal ultrasound because they feel generally unwell or blood test results are abnormal. The ultrasound may identify the reason for this and therefore help the doctor to plan your treatment.
Pelvic Ultrasound
What is it?
There are three methods of performing a pelvic ultrasound examination: Supra-pubic (through a full bladder), trans-vaginal (via the vagina) and rectal (via the rectum). The same principles of high frequency sound waves apply in each technique. Different probe locations are required depending on the precise area under examination.
In women a pelvic ultrasound scan is most widely used to look at the uterus (womb) and ovaries. During pregnancy it may also be used to monitor the health and development of the baby.
Very useful in determining the causes of pelvic pain, abnormal bleeding and other menstrual problems, it can also identify and be used to assess cysts, fibroids and ovarian or uterine cancers.
In men this type of scan generally focuses on the bladder and the prostate gland and is a valuable tool for evaluating the tubes that carry semen. It will detect enlargement of the prostate (benign prostatic hypertrophy) and may also detect cancers. It is also used to guide biopsy needles into the prostate to obtain samples of tissue for assessment of prostate diseases including cancers.
In both sexes, a pelvic ultrasound examination can help to identify tumours and other disorders in the urinary bladder.
Renal (kidney and bladder) Ultrasound
What is it?
Renal ultrasound uses the same principles as other ultrasound examinations involving the transmission of high frequency sound waves through the body to obtain images of the internal organs. It is used is a used to examine the kidneys and bladder, this includes blood flow to the kidneys and urine jets into the bladder which can be can be examined using Doppler ultrasound.
Renal ultrasound is commonly used to evaluate a variety of conditions:
- Abdominal pains such as kidney stones
- Kidneys or bladder infection
- Congenital abnormalities (those you were born with) of the renal tract
- Problems related to the prostate gland
- Injuries to the kidneys and bladder following an accident
Musculoskeletal Ultrasound
What is it?
Musculoskeletal ultrasound is a technique for examining the muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments and soft tissue of the body to detect problems. Because it is a real time examination, it can be used to show anatomy, movement and function, enabling the ultrasound practitioner to diagnose a variety of conditions or assess damage after an injury or illness.
Musculoskeletal ultrasound can be used for the investigation of joint or soft tissue pain and is particularly useful in the diagnosis and assessment of sports injuries such as tears in muscles or tendons. It is used for the diagnosis of “lumps and bumps” throughout the body or can assist in guiding needles to obtain samples for accurate diagnosis of masses in the body.
