Basic Ultrasounds
How is the procedure performed?
The sonographer will ask you to remove any clothing from the area being examined or, if necessary, to remove your clothing from the waist down, and to lie on your stomach, back or your side on an examination table. He or she will then apply a warm gel to the area being examined before pressing the transducer against your skin. This probe produces sound waves which are used to view the body’s internal organs.
Ultrasound images are displayed in real-time on a monitor that the sonographer watches while moving the transducer. You can also see the images.
What will I experience?
Ultrasound examinations are painless. You could experience some discomfort from pressure as the transducer is pressed against certain areas to capture images. Any discomfort is minimal and temporary. The sonographer ensures that the patient is as comfortable as possible.
Reasons for the ultrasound
Prep
Duration
Notes
Abdominal
- Examine the spleen, liver, gallbladder, kidneys and pancreas along with the important membranes, canals and blood vessels located in the abdominal area;
- Determine the size and shape of the organs examined;
- Detect cysts, polyps, calculus, masses, ascites, dilated spaces or canals, wall thickenings, deformations, aneurysms or any other signs of abdominal pathology, and determine their size and shape.
You must not eat, drink or smoke for eight hours before the examination. Drinking water is permitted and medication may be taken, if necessary.
30 minutes
N/A
Women Pelvic
- Examine the uterus, ovaries and bladder;
- Determine the size and shape of the organs examined;
- Detect cysts, polyps, masses, ascites, postmictional residues, deformations, endometrial thickening or any other signs of pelvic pathology, and determine their size and location.
- Evaluate the endometrium;
- Visualize follicular activity: measure and count ovarian follicles;
- Locate an intrauterine device (IUD).
Your bladder should be full, enough to experience discomfort. You must finish drinking 1 litre of water one hour before your appointment time. Do not urinate until after your exam is completed.
40 minutes.
Suprapubic and endovaginal (unless otherwise specified)
Men Pelvic
- Examine the bladder and prostate;
- Determine the size and shape of the organs examined;
- Detect masses, ascites, postmictional residues, deformations, or any other signs of pelvic pathology, and determine their size and location.
Bladder must be full, enough to experience discomfort. You must finish drinking 1 litre of water one hour before your appointment time. Do not urinate until after your exam is completed.
30 minutes
Suprapubic only
Children and Teenagers Pelvic
For Girls:
- Examine the uterus, ovaries and bladder;
- Determine the size and shape of the organs examined;
- Detect cysts, polyps, masses, ascites, postmictional residues, deformations, thickenings or any other signs of pelvic pathology, and determine their size and location.
- Evaluate the endometrium.
Pour Boys:
- Examine the bladder and prostate;
- Determine the size and shape of the organs examined;
- Detect cysts, masses, ascites, postmictional residues, deformations or any other signs of pelvic pathology, and determine their size and location.
Your bladder should be full, enough to experience discomfort. You must finish drinking 1 litre of water one hour before your appointment time. Do not urinate until after your exam is completed.
30 minutes
Suprapubic only for girls and boys
Popliteal Fossa
- Detect cysts, nodules or abnormal masses, and determine their size and location;
- Detect vascular abnormalities.
No preparation is required.
20 minutes
The popliteal fossa is the space behind the knee.
Parotid Gland
- Examine the parotid gland and its spaces, and determine their size and shape; -
- Detect ganglions, cysts, abnormal masses, thickenings, deformations or any other signs of pelvic pathology, and determine their size and/or location.
No preparation is required.
20 minutes
The parotid is one of the salivary glands. It is located between the muscles and the skin, at the back of the jaw, near the ear.
Thyroid Gland
- Study the size and shape of the thyroid gland and the cervical region.
- Detect cysts, nodules, ganglions, abnormal masses, deformations or any other signs of thyroid pathology and determine their size and/or location.
No preparation is required.
30 minutes
Ultrasound is commonly used to study this gland, which is located in the anterior portion of the neck. The thyroid gland is made up of two lobes separated by the isthmus.
Superficial
- Detect, track or confirm the presence of masses, cysts, hemangiomia, hematoma, lipoma, ganglions, etc.;
- Examine their shape, nature, size and location, and detect any signs of pathology.
No preparation is required.
20 to 30 minutes
A superficial ultrasound is done when the area being examined is located beneath the skin, at a non-precise location.