3 Types Of Ultrasound Scans You Might Have Done At An Imaging Center
If you're having medical problems, your doctor might want to run imaging tests along with other forms of testing to arrive at a diagnosis. Ultrasound scans are a common imaging test that's used for a variety of reasons. You can have one of these done at an imaging center—like Hudson Valley Imaging—and if you're having other tests done too, you might have them all done at the same center. Here are the types of ultrasound scans your doctor might order and how they're done.
1. External Ultrasound
This is a common test you may have seen done on pregnant women. The ultrasound technician applies gel to the area to be scanned and then glides a probe over the gel. The ultrasound machine delivers sound waves through the probe that bounce off the organs, bones, and tissues in your body to create a video image on a monitor. The equipment is also able to take still photographs.
An external ultrasound can be used to scan many internal organs, and you may need to prepare for the scan differently depending on the area being scanned. For instance, if you're having a pelvic scan, you might need to drink a lot of water beforehand so your bladder can be identified. Other times, you may be asked not to eat anything before you arrive at the imaging center.
2. Internal Ultrasound
Internal ultrasounds are used to visualize female pelvic organs. Rather than passing a probe over the surface of the skin, an internal ultrasound uses a wand that's inserted in the vagina. The test isn't painful, but there's potential for some discomfort. The sound waves can produce images of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, and bladder. These images help doctors find problems that might be causing pelvic pain or menstrual irregularities.
3. Endoscopic Ultrasound
An endoscopic ultrasound is another type of internal scan. This scan uses an endoscope, which is a long flexible tube, to attach to an ultrasound device. This test requires sedation since the tub is passed through your throat or your rectum so your digestive tract and nearby organs can be visualized.
You'll be able to go home after the test, but since an endoscopic ultrasound requires sedation, you'll need to have someone drive you home from the imaging center and stay with you until you're alert.
These ultrasound tests allow your doctor to see your organs as they work in your body since a video is captured. Your doctor gleans a lot of information from an ultrasound, but the best results come from clear images taken up close. That's why it's necessary to insert the ultrasound device inside your body sometimes. This allows the doctor to see organs that would otherwise be hidden by bones or other tissues.