The sound waves are transmitted to the body from a transducer which is rubbed against the skin. A water-based gel is used to help the transducer move along the skin and eliminate air between the transducer and the skin. Air would allow noise to distort and degrade the images being received back from the transducer.

The structures evaluated by Ultrasound are soft tissue, internal organs, and fluid-filled structures. Ultrasound is not used to evaluate bowel, the intestinal tract, or bone. These images appear in a grayscale from black to white.

Doppler Ultrasound is a specialized technique used to image vascular structures such as arteries and veins. The Doppler Ultrasound can determine the speed of blood flowing in front of the transducer. These images appear in color.

When do doctors recommend Ultrasound?

Your doctor may order and Ultrasound for many reasons. Some reasons are to evaluate:

• a soft tissue before exposure to radiation treatment.
• a lump or mass on the body.
• abdominal organs because of pain or abnormal bloodwork.
• pain not associated with the bones or joints.
• an abnormality seen on another imaging modality.
• abnormal menstrual bleeding or pelvic pain associated with menstruation.
• an unborn baby during pregnancy.
• the Carotid arteries for stenosis.
• the blood vessels of the lower extremities.