What is an Ultrasound Scan?
An Ultrasound scan uses high frequency sound waves to create pictures of soft tissues (eg. muscles, glands) and organs inside the body (eg. kidneys). The non-audible sound passing into your body is safe because it doesn't use radiation. That is why Ultrasound is often used for monitoring the growing child in pregnancy.
Ultrasound equipment uses a hand held scanner (Transducer) which the operator (Sonographer) places against your skin and moves around the area for imaging. The transducer emits sound and detects the returning echoes from the target area and this information is converted to a moving image displayed on a screen. The ability to see a moving image makes ultrasound a good tool for guiding procedures such as needle biopsies and injections.
How do I prepare for an Ultrasound Scan?
Your doctor and the Qscan Radiology Clinics staff will advise you if there is any special preparation required when you make your appointment.
For a liver or gallbladder scan, you will need to fast (not eat or drink fluids, except for sips of water) for several hours before the test.
For bladder or pelvic scan you will be asked to drink approximately 500ml - 1L of water and not pass urine so as to have a full bladder at the time of your examination. A full bladder helps to improve the view of the pelvic structures by displacing nearby loops of bowel. Feel free to speak with staff should you foresee any problems with the preparation.
Your preparation needs to be considered in view of other medical problems such as diabetes or heart failure, in which case you are advised to discuss with your doctor or Qscan staff.
You will need to bring your referral and any previous x-rays or scans with you to your appointment.
What happens during an Ultrasound Scan?
You will be asked to sit or lie down with the area to be scanned exposed.
The operator puts a saline based gel on the area of your body to be scanned to ensure the transducer makes good contact with the surface of the body. The transducer is then held against the area for imaging and moved around to give different views. This is generally not painful, although some pressure may need to be applied to improve visualisation, particularly in the abdomen and tenderness to probe pressure can be a useful finding. You may be required to breathe in deeply to allow your liver to be seen adequately or in order to keep your organs still for a short amount of time. Intermittently you may hear pulsing noises coming from the ultrasound machine if you are having your blood vessels tested but these are not loud.
The operator watches the Ultrasound image on a monitor as they move the transducer around and still images can be recorded.
Are there any after-effects from any Ultrasounds scan?
Ultrasound is safe and harmless. It is possible to go about your normal activities straight after scans, but this may not apply if your scan has been accompanied by an injection. If an injection is part of your study you will be advised of any precautions and in some cases you may be advised not to drive, do any heavy lifting/work for several hours after an injection.
How long does and Ultrasound Scan take?
The time varies depending on the complexity of the study. Most simple Ultrasound scans take about 15-20 minutes to be completed; however more time is required for studies that examine the arteries in your legs or abdomen.
When the test is over, it may be necessary to wait while the images are reviewed to see if more are needed.
What are the risks of an Ultrasound Scan?
An Ultrasound scan does not have any known risks, side effects or complications and is considered to be very safe.
What are the benefits of an Ultrasound Scan?
An Ultrasound scan does not involve radiation. Ultrasound scans are widely used and provide a quick and effective means of getting information about internal parts of the body. The internal structures being viewed are able to be appreciated in real-time (i.e. moving) which is of particular benefit for viewing muscles, tendons and blood vessels. It is usually a painless procedure that does not require any anaesthetic or sedative..
Who does the Ultrasound Scan and report?
The person who operates the scanning equipment is the Sonographer. The person who views the Ultrasound images and interprets them is a specialist doctor - a Radiologist. The Radiologist will generally discuss the scan results with the Sonographer whilst you are still in the practice and may elect to come and perform part of the examination or talk to you about your clinical problem. This is to try to ensure the report is as accurate as possible in your individual situation and does not necessarily mean bad news. The Qscan radiologist provides a written report to your referring doctor, usually electronically.
What are the costs of an Ultrasound Scan?
The cost to you of an Ultrasound scan depends on a number of factors.
When booking an appointment at Qscan you be advised of any costs. Be sure to tell our staff if you are a pensioner or Health Care Card holder as these people are eligible for reduced rates or bulk billing.
If you require more than one type of scan you may be required to book these on separate days for Medicare reasons.
Where is an Ultrasound Scan done?
Ultrasound scans are done at the majority of Qscan Radiology Clinics practice locations. However, Medicare rules, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologist guidelines and our own professional standards dictate that musculoskeletal ultrasounds are only performed at metropolitan sites with a radiologist in attendance.
You will need to contact Qscan Radiology Clinics and make an appointment for your test. This is also a good time to ask any questions you may have about your test or how to prepare and advise the practice if you have any special needs.
When can I expect the results of my Ultrasound Scan?
Ultrasound scans are digitally recorded. At Qscan Radiology Clinics, an expert radiologist interprets these images and provides a report for your doctor - this will occur on the day of your scan and is generally delivered electronically to your doctor within 2 hours. Delivery is normally on the next working day if you chose to have your films and report delivered in full to your referring doctor.
You may need to make an appointment to discuss the results with your referring doctor or therapist.
Where to find further information?
If you would like to know more about Ultrasound scans, ask the staff at Qscan Radiology Clinics to which you have been referred.
Feel free to discuss any questions or concerns about having an Ultrasound scan with the Qscan staff or your doctor.
Who is involved in my scan?
World-class Radiologists and Sonographers, all of whom are accredited and have undergone extensive training, staff Qscan Radiology Clinics.
One of the Qscan Radiologists (link here to profiles) will view the images produced from the test and provide a report for your referring doctor.
Radiology is the medical specialty which uses imaging technologies such as X-Ray, Ultrasound, CT and MRI scans to assist diagnosis of problems and treatment options.
A radiologist is a doctor who completes a medical degree followed by at least two years in general clinical training and then a five year specialist training program. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) conducts the specialist training program and sets professional standards for radiologists.