What is an abdominal ultrasound scan looking for?
What is an abdominal ultrasound scan looking for?
What is an abdominal ultrasound scan? Ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves to create an image of an area of the body. This is a widely used diagnostic test to examine the abdominal organs (liver, kidneys, pancreas, gallbladder, spleen and aorta) and soft tissues of the body.
What can be diagnosed by stomach ultrasound?
Providers use abdominal ultrasound tests to detect:
- Bladder stones.
- Enlarged spleen.
- Gallstones.
- Cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation).
- Pancreatitis (inflamed pancreas).
- Cancer, such as stomach cancer or pancreatic cancer.
- Fatty liver disease.
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm (a bulge in the aorta wall in your midsection).
Why am I having an ultrasound scan?
An external ultrasound scan is most often used to examine the heart or an unborn baby in the womb. It can also be used to examine the liver, kidneys and other organs in the tummy and pelvis, as well as other organs or tissues that can be assessed through the skin, such as muscles and joints.
What does red mean on an abdominal ultrasound?
The direction of blood flow is assigned the color red or blue, indicating flow toward or away from the ultrasound transducer.
Can you tell the difference between a cyst and a tumor on an ultrasound?
For example, most waves pass through a fluid-filled cyst and send back very few or faint echoes, which look black on the display screen. On the other hand, waves will bounce off a solid tumor, creating a pattern of echoes that the computer will interpret as a lighter-colored image.
Why do I need an upper abdominal ultrasound?
Other reasons are for a past history or previous slightly abnormal scan which requires follow-up imaging to see if the body is responding to treatment. An abdominal ultrasound produces a picture of the organs and other structures in the upper abdomen.
Is it safe to have an upper abdominal scan?
A scan of the upper abdomen looks at the internal organs including the liver, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, gall bladder and abdominal aorta. This kind of scan cannot look at the bowel. Are there any risks involved? No, there are no known risks and it is considered to be very safe. 4 Do I need to make any special preparation in advance?
How does an ultrasound scan of the tummy work?
The ultrasound scanner has a microphone that gives off sound waves. The sound waves bounce off the organs inside your body and a microphone picks them up. The microphone links to a computer that turns the sound waves into a picture. You usually have them in the hospital x-ray department.
What do you need to know about an ultrasound scan?
What is an abdominal ultrasound scan? Ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves to create an image of an area of the body. This is a widely used diagnostic test to examine the abdominal organs (liver, kidneys, pancreas, gallbladder, spleen and aorta) and soft tissues of the body. The ultrasound is carried out by a