San Radiology & Nuclear Medicine

Ultrasound

Ultrasound refers to the imaging of body structures using high frequency sound waves. A computer calculates the strength of the reflected sound waves and produces a two or three-dimensional image.

We perform outpatient and inpatient ultrasound examinations, and have highly qualified male and female sonographers who perform these examinations. We have state of the art ultrasound machines providing the latest in ultrasound technology to maximise image quality.

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Ultrasound Procedure

You may be asked to change in to a hospital gown
You will be asked to sit or lie on an examination bed and uncover the area to be scanned
The operator (sonographer) will put a gel over the area to be scanned. The gel allows good contact between the skin and the body
The sonographer moves a transducer at different angles over the body to look at the organs, blood vessels, muscles or tendons. This is viewed on a monitor and still images are recorded
During the procedure you may be asked to breathe deeply in or out, and to hold your breath, in order to clearly see some organs. You may also be asked to move around and shift positions to improve what the sonographer can see. You may also hear some whooshing sounds if we are looking at blood flow. None of this should be painful
At the end of the procedure, the gel is wiped off
The sonographer will show the images to the radiologist and they may come in to view some of the moving organs for themselves if necessary.

Different Types Of Ultrasound

Different ultrasound techniques are used for different conditions. Examples of the more common types of ultrasound exams include:

Abdomen – to detect any abnormalities of the abdominal organs (i.e., kidneys, liver, pancreas, gallbladder) such as gallstones or tumours
Breast – to examine an irregularity or mass in the breast tissue
Echocardiogram – to see the heart and its valves, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the hearts pumping ability
Musculoskeletal – to investigate joint or muscle pain for conditions such as a ligament or tendon tear
Pelvic – to look at pelvic organs such as uterus, ovaries, prostate, bladder
Prostate – to examine any nodules in the prostate felt by a doctor after a physical examination
Renal – to examine the kidneys and bladder
Scrotal – to further investigate pain or swelling in the testicles
Thyroid – examines the thyroid
Vascular – to see the vascular system and its function, including detection of blood clots
Doppler – to see structures inside the body, while evaluating blood flow at the same time. Doppler ultrasound can determine if there are any problems within the veins and arteries
Obstetric – to monitor the development and growth of the foetus. Obstetric Ultrasound is available through San Ultrasound for Women located near San Radiology. For further enquiries contact San Ultrasound for Women on 02 9480 9800
Ultrasound Guided Biopsies or Aspirations – where a small sample of tissue is taken via a needle and transferred to Pathology for assessment

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will the ultrasound examination take?

Your ultrasound examination generally takes approximately 30-90 minutes. In this time the sonographer will perform your ultrasound by recording images. At the end of the examination, the sonographer will discuss the exam and review the images with the radiologist. The radiologist may or may not want to come in to review. In some cases you may be asked to arrive 10-30 minutes prior to your examination for registration and possible preparations.

Is there any preparation for my ultrasound examination?

We will advise you if there is any specific preparation essential for your ultrasound examination.

For abdominal ultrasounds, which include the gallbladder and liver, you will need to fast for six hours prior to your exam. This means nothing to eat or drink.

For renal or pelvic ultrasounds, including the bladder, our booking staff will ask that you drink 1 litre of water 1½ hours before your exam and not pass urine until after your exam as we require you to have a full bladder at the time of your examination. This does not apply to Renal Dialysis patients - please contact San Radiology for specific preparation instructions.

We ask that at the time of making your booking you confirm with San Radiology your preparation, as preparations need to be considered in view of other medical problems such as diabetes.

Is ultrasound safe?

Ultrasound has been used as a medical diagnostic tool for nearly 40 years. It is considered to be quite safe.