General Radiography

Ultrasound

What is Ultrasound?
Ultrasound imaging, sometimes called sonography, is an important medical diagnostic tool. It does not use ionising radiation. Its quick, reliable and non-invasive nature makes it an excellent initial investigation for a wide range of clinical referrals.

Ultrasound imaging shows motion. It is like television because it shows what is happening when it is happening.

Understanding Ultrasound
Ultrasound imaging is similar to sonar used by the military to find ships and submarines. To produce images, ultrasound uses high frequency sound humans can't hear.

In most ultrasound examinations, a transducer, a lightweight device which produces sound waves, is placed on the patient's skin. There are also special transducers which can be put into the vagina or rectum to image these areas of the body.

In an ultrasound examination, the sound waves reach tissues and organs inside the body. Echoes are produced where tissues touch one another. They are sent back to the transducer, which electronically converts the echoes into an image displayed on a video screen.

The Ultrasound Procedure
There is no discomfort in an ultrasound examination. The patient lies comfortably on an examination table. A gel or liquid is put on the patient's skin at the body site to be imaged, such as the abdomen. This is to prevent air from getting between the transducer and the patient's skin. The transducer is moved gently across the patient's skin.

Who Does Ultrasound Exams?
The examination is done by a radiographer. A radiologist "reads" or interprets the image to determine if it is normal or abnormal.

The Benefits of Ultrasound
Many mothers are familiar with ultrasound as a diagnostic tool for examining the foetus. Images can be taken of the growing foetus without exposing it to X-ray radiation. Ultrasound imaging can show if multiple fetuses are present, the position and age of the foetus, abnormalities in the foetus and problems in the pregnancy.

Other Uses
- Ultrasound is also commonly used to diagnose disease in children
  since it does not use X-ray radiation
- It also is used to image breasts as a supplement to a mammogram, 
  an X-ray of the breasts.
- Ultrasound images can show the shape, texture and composition
  of tumours and cysts that sometimes cannot be seen on ordinary
  X-ray studies. Cancerous and non-cancerous growths may have
  different appearances.
- Ultrasound provides new ways to picture the musculoskeletal
  system. For example, it may show an athletic injury that doesn't
  show up on regular X-rays. Ultrasound is also used to image the   gallbladder and kidney.
- Cardiac ultrasound uses soundwaves to examine the heart.
  In many cases it reveals how the heart is working.
- Doppler ultrasound, a recent advance, shows the flow of blood
  through veins and arteries. It is commonly used to detect clogged
  blood vessels. It is also being used after kidney transplantation to
  see if the patient's body is rejecting the transplant.

A Safe Procedure
No harmful effects from diagnostic ultrasound have been identified.

Services Available

Preparation
Please bring along all of your previous films for comparison.

Appointment is necessary and can be made by calling the location where the service is available.

No Special Preparation is Necessary Except:
Ultrasound Gall-bladder
No food and drinks for at least four hours prior to examination.

Ultrasound Pelvis
Patient to drink at least four to six glasses of water before arriving at the clinic. Patient is not to empty the bladder after drinking the water.

Location Where Above Services Are Available
Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre (full range)
Health Promotion Board
Jurong East
Paragon
Gleneagles
Republic Plaza