Procedures

Ultrasound imaging/ultrasound scanning/sonography involves exposing part of the body to a high-frequency sound wave, via a small probe, which contacts the surface of the skin to produce images.  Ultrasound does not use ionising radiation (as used in X-rays).
Ultrasound images are captured in real-time and can be used to assess the structure and movement of the body’s internal organs, as well as blood flowing through blood vessels.
Ultrasound imaging is a non-invasive medical test and is used as a screening study by physicians to help diagnose and treat several medical conditions.
A Doppler ultrasound is a specific ultrasound examination used to evaluate blood flow through a blood vessel including the body’s major arteries and veins in the abdomen, legs, arms and neck.

The most commonly performed indications for ultrasound examination include:

• Evaluation of any superficial lump or bump
• Evaluation of the thyroid gland, and neck lumps
• To evaluate for the presence of fluid in the lungs
• To assess breast lumps
• For evaluation for the presence of gallstones and other abdominal abnormalities, including liver and splenic diseases
• To assess the kidneys and bladder
• Ultrasound remains an excellent modality in the assessment of many musculoskeletal conditions – shoulder pain, knee pain, ankle injury, elbow and wrist pathology
• Assessment of pregnancy up to 13 weeks gestation
• In the evaluation of paediatric abdominal pain
• Assessment of blood vessels, particularly to exclude the presence of blood clots in the lower limbs (DVT (deep vein thrombosis))
• Ultrasound is used to guide many biopsies, for more accurate diagnosis, particularly in the breast, thyroid and liver.  Superficial lumps can undergo biopsy with ultrasound guidance
• Ultrasound is used to guide anaesthetic/steroidal injections into painful areas such as the shoulder and hip joints.