Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound
Physician Order required
ABDOMINAL
ARTERIAL/VENOUS
RENAL/BLADDER
ECHOCARDIOGRAM
ELASTOGRAPHY
OBSTETRIC
PELVIC ULTRASOUND
PELVIC/TRANSVAGINAL
SCROTAL
RENAL
ABDOMINAL
ABDOMINAL
Ultrasound is, in most cases, the first imaging technique used to diagnose and characterize abdominal pathology. A complete abdominal ultrasound examines the Liver, Pancreas, Gallbladder, Kidneys, Spleen, Bladder, & Abdominal blood vessels. such as the inferior vena cava and the aorta. A right upper quadrant ultrasound examines three organs of the digestive system, the Liver, Pancreas, & Gallbladder.HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR ABDOMINAL ULTRASOUND
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- Adults: Do not eat or drink eight hours before the exam.
- Children: Do not eat or drink four hours before study or skip one meal.
- Take medications with a small sip of water.
- If you are diabetic, please take your insulin.
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INDICATIONS FOR ABDOMINAL ULTRASOUND
- Abdominal, flank, and/or back pain .
- Signs or symptoms that may be referred from the abdominal and/or retroperitoneal regions, such as jaundice or hematuria.
- Palpable abnormalities, such as an abdominal mass or organomegaly.
- Abnormal laboratory values or abnormal findings on other imaging examinations suggestive of abdominal and/or retroperitoneal pathology .
- Follow-up of known or suspected abnormalities in the abdomen and/or retroperitoneum .
- Evaluation of cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) stents; screening for hepatoma; and evaluation of the liver in conjunction with liver elastography .
- Abdominal trauma .
- Search for metastatic disease or an occult primary neoplasm .
- Evaluation of urinary tract infection and hydronephrosis .
- Evaluation of uncontrolled hypertension and suspected renal artery stenosis.
- Search for the presence of free or loculated peritoneal and/or retroperitoneal fluid.
- Evaluation of suspected congenital abnormalities.
- Evaluation of suspected hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, intussusception, necrotizing enterocolitis, or any other bowel abnormalities .
- Pretransplantation and posttransplantation evaluation .
- Planning for and guiding an invasive procedure .
What Ultrasound Can Determine
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Atherosclerosis
- Ascites
- Gallstones
- Cholecystitis
- Kidney Stones
- Hydronephrosis
- Mass or Cyst of Abdominal Organs
- Pancreatitis
- Spleen Enlargement
- Liver Enlargement
- Cirrhosis
- Fatty Liver Disease
- Intussusception
- Pyloric Stenosis
ARTERIAL/VENOUS
ARTERIAL/VENOUS ULTRASOUND
Vascular ultrasound is a noninvasive test that uses sound waves to evaluate the body’s circulatory system in the arteries and veins to help identify blockages to blood flow, narrowing of vessels, tumors and congenital vascular malformations. A Doppler ultrasound study – a technique that evaluates blood flow through a blood vessel – is usually part of this exam. Arterial and Venous ultrasound studies can include the arms, legs, neck and abdomen.HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR ULTRASOUND
- Lower Extremity: Wear loose shorts or comfortable, easy to remove clothing
- Upper Extremity: Tank top or comfortable, easy to remove clothing.
- Carotid: Wear loose neck shirt (no collared or high neck shirts)
- Aorta: Do not eat or drink eight hours before the exam. Take medications with a small sip of water. If you are diabetic, please take your insulin.
Indications for an Vascular Ultrasound
- Pain/Tenderness in extremity
- Swelling
- Rest Pain
- Discoloration.
- Edema
- Shortness of Breath
- Abdominal Aneurysm
- Pre/Post Surgery
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Obesity
- Patient is a Smoker
- Non-Healing Ulcer
- Claudication
- History of DVT
- History of PAD
- CVA/TIA
- Suspected arterial embolization
- Arterio-venous fistula
- Trauma
What Ultrasound Can Determined
- Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)
- Popliteal Aneurysm
- Baker’s Cyst
- Stenosis
- Arterial Blockage
- Blood Clots
- Venous Insufficiency
RENAL/BLADDER
RENAL/BLADDER
Renal ultrasound is a noninvasive medical exam that uses sound waves to produce pictures of the kidneys and bladder to evaluate size, location, blood flow, fluid retention, and any abnormalities present.HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR RENAL/BLADDER ULTRASOUND
- Eat normally.
- Start by emptying the bladder 2 hours before appointment, then drink 32 ounces of water.
- Finish drinking all 32 ounces ONE HOUR BEFORE your exam.
- Do not empty your bladder before your exam.
INDICATIONS FOR RENAL/BLADDER ULTRASOUND
- Flank Pain
- Hematuria
- Proteinuria
- Kidney Stones
- Hydronephrosis
- Bladder Infection
- Kidney Infection
- Abdominal Trauma
- Urinary Tract Infections
- family history of polycystic kidney disease
- Concern for ureteral obstruction
WHAT ULTRASOUND CAN DETERMINE
- Kidney Stones
- Hydronephrosis
- Masses or Cyst
- Obstructions
- Nephritis
- Dilated Ureter(s)
- Non-excavation of the Bladder
- Renal Carcinoma
- Acute Renal Failure
ECHOCARDIOGRAM
ECHOCARDIOGRAM
- No preparation required.
ELASTOGRAPHY
ELASTOGRAPHY
- Adults: Do not eat or drink eight hours before the exam.
- Children: Do not eat or drink four hours before study or skip one meal.
- Take medications with a small sip of water.
- If you are diabetic, please take your insulin.
OBSTETRIC
OBSTETRIC
- Eat normally.
- Finish drinking 32 ounces of water one hour before your exam.
- Do not empty your bladder before your exam.
PELVIC ULTRASOUND
PELVIC ULTRASOUND
A Pelvic Ultrasound employs pulses of high frequency sound waves to image the pelvic organs. The bladder is also visualized and is required to be full for this exam. For women, a pelvic ultrasound is used to assess the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, and ovaries through your lower abdominal area. Doppler is also performed in a Pelvic Ultrasound to show blood flow to the major reproductive organs. In most cases, a pelvic ultrasound is usually accompanied by a transvaginal ultrasound. A transvaginal ultrasound is a relatively quick, painless imaging procedure that provides a more detailed view of your pelvic organs than an abdominal pelvic ultrasound provides. It’s one of the most common, most useful diagnostic tools your provider can use to provide you care. For men, a pelvic ultrasound is used to assess the condition of the male bladder, prostate gland and surrounding structures and organs such as the blood vessels, kidneys and bowel through your lower abdominal area.HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR PELVIC ULTRASOUND
- Eat normally.
- Start by emptying the bladder 2 hours before appointment, then drink 32 ounces of water.
- Finish drinking all 32 ounces one hour BEFORE your exam.
- Do not empty your bladder before your exam.
INDICATIONS FOR PELVIC ULTRASOUND WOMEN:
- Pelvic Mass
- Pelvic Pain
- Fibroid
- Endometrial Hyperplasia
- Amenorrhea
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Urinary Obstruction
- Heavy or Frequent Menstruation
- Irregular Menstruation
MEN:
- Pelvic pain
- Pelvic mass
- Difficulty in passing urine
- Increased urgency in passing urine
- Prostatic enlargement
WHAT ULTRASOUND CAN DETERMINE WOMAN:
- Bladder stones
- Cysts or Masses
- Fibroids
- Polyps
- IUD position
- Ovarian Torsion
- Endometriosis
- Ectopic Pregnancy
MEN:
- Cysts or masses
- Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
- Prostatitis
- Enlarged seminal vesicles
- Stones in the bladder, seminal vesicles, Prostate or ejaculatory ducts
PELVIC/TRANSVAGINAL
PELVIC/TRANSVAGINAL
- Our protocol is to include transvaginal ultrasound with the pelvic ultrasound.
- Eat normally.
- One hour before your exam, drink 32 ounces of water.
- Do not empty your bladder before your exam.
SCROTAL
SCROTAL
- No preparation required.
RENAL
RENAL
- One hour before your exam, drink 32 ounces of water.
- Do not empty your bladder before your exam.
- Adults: Do not eat or drink eight hours before the exam.
- Children: Do not eat or drink four hours before study or skip one meal.
- Take all medications
- If you are diabetic, please take your insulin.
