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Coupled with our advanced ultrasound technology, Arcadia Radiology Medical Group offers a long history in providing excellence in ultrasound imaging, improved image quality and an enhanced overall patient experience.
What is Ultrasound?
This radiation free imaging modality, also known as Sonography, uses high-frequency sound waves to generate an image. The reflected sound wave echoes are recorded and displayed as a real-time visual image. Because ultrasound images are captured in real-time, they can show movement of internal tissues and organs, and enable our Radiologists to see blood flow and heart valve functions. An ultrasound is a safe and painless imaging study.
Most commonly associated with prenatal examinations, ultrasound is used increasingly in a variety of diagnostic applications. In addition to being used in the evaluation of the fetus during pregnancy, ultrasound has many other applications including evaluation of the gall bladder for gallstones as well as in the characterization of breast masses. A specialized form of ultrasound called Doppler ultrasound can detect blood flow and is helpful in detecting stenosis of the carotid arteries (blockages in the blood vessels of the neck) as well as thromboses (blood clots) in the legs. Ultrasound imaging is also used for guiding biopsies of various tissues, such as the breast and prostate gland.
 Preparing for an Ultrasound
Preparing for an ultrasound exam depends on the type of exam the patient is having.
For Obstetrical, Pelvic and Renal (Kidneys) exams, start with an empty bladder. Ninety minutes before your exam drink 48 ounces of water over a 60-minute period. Do not empty your bladder until the exam is complete.
For abdominal, gall bladder and pancreas exams patients must not have nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before their exam. Medications may be taken with a small amount of water. No smoking the morning of the exam.
Patients having biopsies of the breast or thyroid must refrain from taking any aspirin or Coumadin for 5 Days prior to their exam and must not eat or drink anything for 4 hours before the exam.
Please contact our office for any questions related to preparing for an ultrasound exam including hysterosonogram exams which require specific appointment dates dependent on the femal patient's menstrual cycle, and men's prostate exams which require specific bowel preparation.
During and After an Ultrasound
The patient will lie on a comfortable table while a Technologist performs the exam. A handheld device, called an ultrasound probe or transducer, will be moved on the surface of the skin in the area of interest after a liquid gel is placed on the probe and/or the skin. For certain ultrasound exams, specialized internal probes are used. For example, an endovaginal probe is used for most pelvic exams to create the most detailed images of the uterus and ovaries.
Folowing an ultrasound study, the patient can eat and resume normal activity. One of Arcadia Radiology Medical Group's Radiologists will interpret the ultrasound exam and send the results to the patient's physician.
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