At Imaging Center PC, our advanced Logic 10 GE ultrasound machine generates detailed images of structures in your body. This non-invasive method is safe, painless, and does not use ionizing radiation. It is a great tool for diagnosing and/or monitoring many health conditions. Our modern facility offers convenient on-site ultrasound capabilities, ensuring that patients receive timely and effective care.
Doctors often use ultrasound to evaluate obstetrical, gynecologic, and urologic conditions and to evaluate children. Among other medical disciplines. Ultrasounds is the best way to confirm and date a pregnancy, monitor fetal growth, and assess overall fetal well-being. In gynecology, ultrasound is vital for evaluating abnormal uterine bleeding, pelvic pain, and identifying pelvic masses. Ultrasound exam lasts 15 to 60 minutes, depending on the exam type and the information required by your physician.
An Ultrasound provide real-time observations of blood in vessels, fetal heartbeats and other organ dynamics. It can detect many disorders and monitor their progression and treatment.
- Gallbladder Ultrasound: Please avoid milk, food, insulin, and hypoglycemic medications for 6 hours prior to the exam. You may take other medications and drink water or soda.
- Kidney, Pelvis, or Pregnancy (less than 3 months): Drink 32 ounces of liquid (two 16-ounce bottles of water) one hour before your appointment and try to maintain a moderately full bladder for your exam time.
- Prostate: If you have kidney impairment, a sodium-restricted diet, heart problems, or constipation with stomach cramps, nausea, or vomiting, consult your doctor about which enema preparation to use. Otherwise, take a Fleet enema three hours before your appointment. Do not use Fleet Enema without a doctor's advice if you have kidney disease.
Ultrasound uses silent sound waves to make images of body tissues and organs. A transducer sends sound waves into the body. They bounce off organs and return to the transducer as echoes and produce the motion picture that we see on the machines monitor. Ultrasound does not use ionizing radiation.
The sonographer will position you comfortably on an examination table during your ultrasound. He/she will put a gel on your skin over the area being examined to enhance image quality. A small transducer emits brief sound waves, then listens most of the time to hear the tissues then listens to echoes that produce a picture of organs in the body. After the exam, a board-certified radiologist will interpret the results and share them with your physician. Your physician will discuss the report with you and make recommendations for any followup you may need.
Ultrasound is commonly used to evaluate all abdominal soft tissue organs that do not contain gas and that are not surrounded by bone. Ultrasound is a primary imaging tool to monitor the uterus, thyroid gland, arteries, veins, very dense breasts, and fetal development.
Throughout the procedure, you can expect a comfortable and straightforward experience. After applying the gel, the sonographer gently moves the transducer over your skin to capture images of areas of interest. Depending on the specific indication, such as assessing female pelvic health, an additional transducer type may be used. We encourage you to communicate your health information and concerns with the technologist.
A main ultrasound advantage is its safety profile; unlike x-ray and CT scans, it does not use ionizing radiation. This is ideal for all patients particularly for children and pregnant women. Ultrasound is painless and non-invasive. This imaging technique should only be done when medically justified. Ultrasound uses brief low-levels of sound energy to make images, therefore it should be used only when necessary to gain medical information. It is usually not painful, however,pressure from the transducer may cause some discomfort (this can help determine your diagnosis).
Sound waves directed into the body, are reflected back to the transducer by tissue interfaces. During the transducer listening period, the machines computer calculates the depth of the interface by measuring how long the echo takes to return to the transducer. The sweep of the updated distances is so fast that 2 dimensional organ details are seen. The computer can also generate 3D and 4D imaging. This real-time imaging can display anatomy, blood flow, heart motion, and pathology conditions.
Preparation varies based on the type of exam(s) you will have performed. You should wear loose-fitting clothing. For some abdominal ultrasounds, you should avoid food and drinks other than water for several hours prior to the procedure. However, in some cases, you may be asked to drink water before your appointment so your bladder is moderately full at the time of your exam.
The duration of an ultrasound test typically ranges from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the complexity of the examination and the area being assessed. A board-certified radiologist will provide a written review of your exam for your physician as feedback and guidance.
