What Is the Purpose of Ultrasound?

 

Ultrasounds are mainly used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Therapeutic ultrasounds include using sound waves to pinpoint a specific target for an injection, or to heat tissues to kill a tumor. In diagnostic tests, such as checking for herniated area or an abdominal growth, the doctor uses the soundwaves to produce an image. Most Gold Coast ultrasound scans are diagnostic in nature.

 

Ultrasound imaging is utilized in many different medical settings, such as in radiology, obstetrics, oncology, and orthopedics, from general practitioners to hospital specialists. With ultrasound technology, your doctor can see problems with organs, tissues, and vessels without the need to make an incision.

 

The following are the top uses of ultrasound:

 

To Monitor the Baby

A pregnancy Gold Coast ultrasound uses sound waves to capture a picture of a baby on the screen. With it, doctors check on the health of the baby and detect complications during pregnancy. Most women will have 1 to 2 ultrasounds during pregnancy, but you may have more if your doctor considers it medically necessary.

 

A biophysical profile (BPP) also includes Gold Coast ultrasound by combining it with a nonstress test to find out if the baby is getting enough oxygen. NST (nonstress test) also measures the heart rate of the fetus in response to its movements.

 

For Breast Imaging Test

If you feel a lump in your breast, or one is apparent on your mammogram, your doctor may request for an ultrasound. A breast ultrasound generates detailed images of the tissue inside. It can show if the lump is a fluid-filled cyst or a solid mass that requires more testing.

 

Breast ultrasound is not normally performed to screen for breast cancer, as it may miss some early signs of the disease. But ultrasound may be used if you have a dense breast tissue because a mammogram may not see through the tissue.

 

Your doctor may also use ultrasound to help remove fluid from a cyst, see nearby lymph nodes, or guide a needle during a biopsy.

 

To Check Abdominal Pain

Ultrasound is an easy and fast test to look for the cause of abdominal pain and is often referred to by doctors as the first test to look for underlying conditions like suspicious lesions or gallstones. The common use of the procedure is to evaluate the gallbladder, liver, pancreas, bile ducts, spleen, and blood vessels of the abdomen.

 

If you have a persistent pain for more than 3 days in your belly, it can be a sign of a more serious problem. With an abdominal ultrasound, a specialist will be able to see and evaluate your condition, giving you some reassurance. 

 

For Testicular Ultrasound

Testicular ultrasound is performed to:

 

Check for blood, fluid, or pus in the scrotum, and fluid in the epididymis.

Look for twisting of the spermatic cord.

Check on a swelling or an infection of the testicles or epididymis.

Find an undescended testicle.

Check pain or a mass in the testicles.

Check an injury to the genital area.

Check to see if testicular cancer has returned.

Guide a biopsy needle for a biopsy.

 

Talk to your healthcare provider about how the test will be done, its risks, any concerns you have, and what the results will mean.