Various Types and Importance of Ultrasound

During pregnancy, you want to ensure that your baby is healthy. Medical examinations such as ultrasound in Memorial City provide essential diagnostic information on your baby’s development and may also monitor fetal position and level of amniotic fluid. Your doctor at Memorial Women’s Specialists may also use an ultrasound to diagnose heart conditions and guide a biopsy.

What is an ultrasound?

An ultrasound is a non-invasive examination method that your doctor uses to get a view of your internal body structures such as pelvic and abdominal organs, bones, tendons, muscles, blood vessels, and the heart. The procedure involves using high-frequency sound waves that create an image of your internal organs on a display monitor.

No initial preparation is required for an ultrasound. However, for imaging tests such as a gallbladder ultrasound, you may need to avoid drinking and eating before the exam. Your doctor may require you to have a full bladder for a pelvic ultrasound.

Types of ultrasound

There are various types of ultrasounds, including:

Pelvic ultrasound imaging

Your doctor may use this test to examine your bladder, uterus, and ovaries. This imaging test can also be used during pregnancy to monitor the embryo or fetus. Various conditions may also be diagnosed using this test, including:

·         Ovarian cysts

·         Uterine fibroids

·         Pelvic pain

·         Kidney stones

·         Uterine and ovarian cancer

Abdominal ultrasound

This test may help your doctor examine internal body organs such as your liver, kidneys, pancreas, gallbladder, and spleen. Your specialist may also use an abdominal ultrasound to:

·         Guide needle biopsy procedures

·         Establish the cause for enlargement of an abdominal organ

·         Help your doctor to determine the source of abdominal pain

Transvaginal ultrasound

Your specialist will use this test to establish the cause of pelvic pain. Before the procedure, you may need to empty your bladder. Your doctor may require you to lie on your back and insert the first three inches of a transducer inside your vagina. Moving the transducer around helps your doctor to obtain images of your pelvis from different angles.

Obstetric ultrasound

This imaging test involves using sound waves to create an image and monitor the condition of an embryo. During this test, your doctor will apply a water-soluble gel on your abdominal surface and pass a transducer across your skin’s surface. You may experience slight discomfort when your doctor presses more firmly to obtain closer images of the fetus. Obstetric ultrasound is also helpful to:

·         Monitor the position of the fetus

·         Diagnose any congenital abnormalities

·         Estimate the gestational period

·         Check for multiple pregnancies

Carotid ultrasound

This imaging test involves sound waves to create images of arteries in your neck, transporting blood from the heart to your brain. Your doctor may also use a Doppler ultrasound to diagnose blockage or narrowing of carotid arteries. During the process, your specialist will apply a clear gel on the examination area to eliminate air pockets between the transducer and your skin. Your specialist will then press the ultrasound device on your skin and review images on a monitor.

If you require an ultrasound test, reserve a session with your physician at Memorial Women’s Specialist for examination.