Ultrasound, also known as ultrasonography, is an imaging test that is non-invasive, needleless, pain-free, and, most importantly, completely safe. Ultrasound allows the physician and the patient to understand the patient’s internal soft tissues without surgery or excision.
Ultrasound machine uses the frequency of sound waves to form pictures or videos of the internal organs of a person’s body. It is particularly useful to visualise the internal soft body tissues, organs, and blood vessels.
A gel layer is applied onto the skin overlying the body part for investigation. An ultrasound probe (also known as a transducer) is placed over the gel in direct contact with the skin. The transducer will convert electric current into high-frequency sound waves and transmit them to the body tissue. The sound waves will then be bounced off the body structure (based on different densities of the body tissues/organs) back to the probe, which will then be switched back to electric signals. A monitor connected to the probe will interpret the electric signals into images and motion videos.
While we commonly associate ultrasound scans with foetal checkups during pregnancy, ultrasound has more benefits than most of us are aware of.
Ultrasound can also be used for evaluation or diagnosis of medical ailments. Common ultrasounds that your doctor may advise include:
Breasts ultrasound: this allows viewing the breasts to check breast lumps, including soft cysts, nodules, and tumours. Women who are below the age of 40 can undergo breast ultrasound for breast cancer screening.
Abdomen ultrasound: this is particularly useful if a person has concerns about their liver, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, or gallbladder or is experiencing abdominal symptoms over the mid-belly region.
Kidneys (renal) ultrasound: this is particularly useful to screen for kidney cysts, lumps, or possible infections. Occasionally, your doctor may offer a further extension of ultrasound to cover the structure of the bladder and connecting tubes such as the ureters.
Pelvic ultrasound: this is useful to visualise the uterus, ovaries, and the surrounding pelvic structure of a woman.
Prostate ultrasound: this is beneficial for a man to visualise the structure and size of the prostate and screen for prostate conditions such as prostate cancer, prostatitis, or benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH).
Thyroid ultrasound: this is useful to assess the thyroid gland over the neck and screen for cysts or nodules that may be present.
Carotid and deep veins Doppler ultrasound: this is useful to screen for the main blood vessels in the body- over the neck or the deep veins of the legs to look for clots and narrowing.
Breasts ultrasound: this allows viewing the breasts to check breast lumps, including soft cysts, nodules, and tumours. Women who are below the age of 40 can undergo breast ultrasound for breast cancer screening.
Abdomen ultrasound: this is particularly useful if a person has concerns about their liver, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, or gallbladder or is experiencing abdominal symptoms over the mid-belly region.
Kidneys (renal) ultrasound: this is particularly useful to screen for kidney cysts, lumps, or possible infections. Occasionally, your doctor may offer a further extension of ultrasound to cover the structure of the bladder and connecting tubes such as the ureters.
Pelvic ultrasound: this is useful to visualise the uterus, ovaries, and the surrounding pelvic structure of a woman.
Prostate ultrasound: this is beneficial for a man to visualise the structure and size of the prostate and screen for prostate conditions such as prostate cancer, prostatitis, or benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH).
Thyroid ultrasound: this is useful to assess the thyroid gland over the neck and screen for cysts or nodules that may be present.
Carotid and deep veins Doppler ultrasound: this is useful to screen for the main blood vessels in the body- over the neck or the deep veins of the legs to look for clots and narrowing.
On the day of the ultrasound, you will be guided to a procedure room with the ultrasound machine and transducer/probe. You are advised to lie down (on your back) on an examination bed. The ultrasound sonographer will apply a gel over your skin on the body area to be tested.
The sonographer will then hold the ultrasound probe over the gel to obtain images of your body part. Sometimes, the sonographer will ask you to hold your breath or stay still for a few seconds to obtain accurate images for the scan. At the end of the ultrasound test, your sonographer will clean off the gel over your skin, and you should be done. The ultrasound test is usually a 20-30-minute procedure, though, in more complex situations, your sonographer may spend longer to obtain relevant images of your ultrasound.
An ultrasound is a straightforward medical procedure. You are encouraged to arrive 15-20 minutes before your appointment to allow the sonographer/clinic staff ample time to prepare for your medical tests. In terms of clothing, there is generally no attire restriction, though comfortable loose wear is encouraged for your ease. For certain organs of our body, the clinic staff may advise you to change your clothes into a dressing gown or cover up with a blanket during the procedure.
For abdominal/liver ultrasound
You must fast for at least 4 hours before the ultrasound. If you are on long-term medications, especially anti-diabetic medications, do let your doctor or clinic staff know and check with them whether you should adjust the dose before the ultrasound scan.
Other forms of ultrasound will not require fasting.
For pelvic ultrasound
You are advised to drink 100-200mls of fluid 1 hour before your appointment to better visualise the area.
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