What is ultrasound?
Ultrasound uses sound waves and a computer to create images of internal organs and blood vessels. It has a variety of applications for almost all the organs in your body.
An instrument called a transducer is placed over the area of the body being examined. This transducer emits sound waves. The waves bounce off the organ or structure being evaluated and come back to the transducer that sent them, in the form of echoes. The images are then sent to the computer and the data is analyzed.
When is it used?
Ultrasound has a wide range of applications, from adult bone studies to fetal heart rate monitors. One instrument, most of the body.
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01
The abdomen
It helps clinicians assess the organs and blood vessels in the abdomen — liver, kidneys, spleen, gallbladder, bile ducts, aorta and pancreas.
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02
The pelvic area
It also helps in evaluating organs in the pelvic area — uterus, ovaries, bladder and prostate.
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03
Pregnancy
Most obstetricians perform a routine diagnostic ultrasound to look for any abnormalities with either the fetus or the mother’s anatomy during early pregnancy.
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04
Breast, thyroid, scrotum and soft tissue
The breast, thyroid gland and scrotum are well evaluated with ultrasound, as are soft tissue masses in your extremities and elsewhere.
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05
Arteries and veins
Ultrasound is very useful in studying both arteries and veins throughout your neck, chest, abdomen and extremities. It can also detect abnormalities in your blood vessels.
Some examples of study types, and their purpose
Doppler ultrasound
To visualize blood flow through a blood vessel.
Abdominal ultrasound
To evaluate the gallbladder, liver and other abdominal organs.
Thyroid ultrasound
To monitor nodules.
Fetal ultrasound
To view the fetus in pregnancy.
Doppler fetal heart rate monitors
To listen to the fetal heart beat.
Ultrasound AI from DeepHealth
Ultrasound is captured live, by hand, one sweep at a time. That is its great advantage. It is also the reason the quality of a study has always varied with who is scanning. AI helps make the reading and reporting consistent.
A consistent read
AI helps the radiologist measure and characterize thyroid nodules and, on diagnostic breast ultrasound, breast lesions on the captured images.
A closer look
AI can help detect thyroid nodules and breast lesions for the radiologist’s review.
A faster answer
AI tools designed to speed up measurements and reporting are used on eligible ultrasound exams.
RadNet uses DeepHealth Thyroid, FDA-cleared AI developed by See-Mode (now part of DeepHealth), for automated nodule detection and characterization and TI-RADS reporting that the radiologist reviews. Early deployment at 12 RadNet centers showed up to a 30% reduction in exam slot time. Where it is in use, DeepHealth’s FDA-cleared Breast Ultrasound adds automated lesion detection and characterization in line with ACR BI-RADS on diagnostic breast ultrasound.
In an early rollout of DeepHealth Thyroid at 12 RadNet centers.
AI helps radiologists find, measure and describe thyroid nodules and, on diagnostic breast ultrasound, breast lesions in a standard TI-RADS and BI-RADS format.
Inside the exam
The gel
A water-based gel is applied to the skin over the area to be examined, to block any air between the skin and transducer, to eliminate friction on the skin, and to provide the best quality images.
The transducer
The technologist then will place the transducer over the area that will be examined, and move it across the skin while the images build on the monitor.
Sometimes two probes
For certain indications like female bleeding, fibroids, ovarian cysts and pelvic pain, two types of transducers may be used.
You can talk the whole time
You will be able to communicate with the technologist during the procedure. Ask what you like, and say if anything is uncomfortable.
There is no ionizing radiation exposure with this procedure. Ultrasounds are painless, non-invasive and have the highest safety use in all of radiologic imaging. However, we still practice prudent use of ultrasound and specific modes of imaging, especially for obstetrical sonography.
Exam preparation
We want your exam to be as comfortable and hassle-free as possible, so we provide all the information you will need to prepare before you arrive.
Your specific exam has its own instructions. You will find them on the Exam Preparation page.
Ultrasound preparation varies more than any other exam we offer. Several studies are banded by age, because a two-year-old and a twenty-year-old cannot be asked to do the same thing.
All exam preparationWhat to bring
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Prescription or referral from your physician.
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A list of the medications you take, including non-prescription medications and supplements.
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Insurance cards.
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Any previous, relevant imaging exams and reports performed outside of our network, and your medical history.
Common questions
There is no ionizing radiation exposure with this procedure. Ultrasounds are painless, non-invasive and have the highest safety use in all of radiologic imaging. However, we still practice prudent use of ultrasound and specific modes of imaging, especially for obstetrical sonography.
A water-based gel is applied to the skin over the area to be examined to block any air between the skin and transducer, to eliminate friction on the skin, and provide the best quality images.
Yes. You will be able to communicate with the technologist during the procedure.
Sometimes. For certain indications like female bleeding, fibroids, ovarian cysts and pelvic pain, two types of transducers may be used.
No. Breast ultrasound, although a powerful imaging utility, is a supplement and not a substitute for mammography screening. There are findings seen on a mammogram that are either less visible or not seen on ultrasound — microcalcifications, generally speaking, are virtually invisible on sonography. Ultrasound is used alongside a mammogram, not instead of one.
Find an ultrasound location near you
Not every center offers every ultrasound study. Confirm the exam you need when you book.