Ultrasound

Ultrasound is used, amongst other things, to visualise organs in the abdomen (liver, kidneys, gallbladder), the thyroid, the breast, as well as soft tissues and joints. Specialised ultrasound techniques can also be used to examine blood vessels and blood flow to assess circulation and detect any abnormalities, for example to investigate thrombosis.

As well as for diagnostic purposes, we also use ultrasound for interventional procedures. These include targeted punctures, biopsies and the insertion of catheters. Ultrasound monitors the exact positioning of needles or instruments in real time, enabling procedures to be carried out precisely, with minimal invasiveness and in a gentle manner.

For most ultrasound scans – such as those of the thyroid, joints or blood vessels – no preparation is required. Specific guidelines apply only to the abdomen and the pelvis.

Ultrasound of the abdominal organs
Please do not eat anything for around 4 to 6 hours before your appointment and avoid fizzy drinks. This will help prevent excess air in the bowel and contraction of the gallbladder. A small glass of water is usually fine.

Ultrasound of the pelvic organs (bladder, prostate, lower abdomen)
Please arrive with a full bladder: do not urinate for at least 1 to 2 hours before your appointment, as a full bladder acts as a sound window and makes the organs more visible.

An ultrasound scan usually takes between 10 and 30 minutes. To begin with, the doctor applies a water-based gel to the skin. It is harmless and can be easily removed afterwards. The gel ensures that the sound waves are transmitted into the body as effectively as possible. This is because there must be no air between the transducer and the skin, as air reflects the sound waves almost entirely, preventing clear images from being produced.

The doctor then gently moves the transducer over the area of the body being examined. Organs and tissues reflect the sound waves to varying degrees; a computer processes these signals in real time and displays them as an image on a monitor. This allows the structures being examined to be assessed directly.