Is there any preparation?
For the following ultrasound examinations, you do not require any special preperation.
- Abdominal aorta
- Breast
- Thyroid
- Musculoskeletal
- Scrotal
- Doppler (e.g. Upper or lower limbs, carotid)
- Infant Hips (Bring bottle for baby.)
Procedure
Once you arrive, you may be asked by the sonographer to change into a gown and to lie on a table, you will be covered during your examination except for the area required to be examined. A warm layer of gel will be spread over the area to be examined and then using a special ultrasound transducer the sonographer will start to acquire the appropriate images. Ultrasound examinations are not painful and are generally are non invasive.
Other Ultrasound Examinations
Scans of the shoulder or other joints may require your cooperation in performing special movements while scanning is performed. Colour Doppler ultrasound uses a special technology to look at blood flowing in arteries and veins. This is most commonly used to study the carotid arteries in the neck (supplying the brain) and veins in the legs. During these studies you will often hear strange noises, as signals from flowing blood are transformed into sound. We may need to gently squeeze the calf a few times when examining the leg veins.
On occasion, a biopsy, or sample of tissue, may be required by your doctor to diagnose a medical problem. If you are required to have a liver or breast biopsy, the test may need to be performed at a specific Lake Imaging location. Whilst many biopsies have no specific requirements, biopsies of kidney and liver require special preparation. You will be advised by our booking staff when you make your appointment.
The specimen will then be sent to a pathology laboratory for processing and the results will be forwarded to your doctor.
Sometimes your referring doctor may request you to have a pain relieving injection into a specific area. A radiologist will perform this procedure and the ultrasound probe is used to assist to guide the injection to the correct place. No specific preparation is required for this procedure.