Abdominal
Neck/Thyroid
Pelvic
Obstetrical
Venous/Arterial
Musculosketal

Ultrasound (US) uses sound waves, like sonar, to take pictures of the inside of the body. We use it often to look at pregnancies, the gallbladder, abdomen, kidneys, blood vessels in the legs, arteries of the neck, and tendons. It is a quick, painless, and relatively inexpensive procedure.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ultrasound:

How much radiation do I get from an Ultrasound?
Ultrasound uses sound waves, which do not produce any radiation.

How do I prepare for my gallbladder and abdomen ultrasound?
Please do not eat or drink anything for six hours before the study. This helps the gallbladder fill with fluid and makes it easier to see.

What type of ultrasound test do you do on blood vessels?
Ultrasound is an excellent way to look for blood clots in the veins of the legs or arms. This is also an excellent way to view narrowing in the arteries of the neck in looking for atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) or as a cause of stroke.

How do I get ready for a pelvis ultrasound?
There is no special preparation. It used to be that you were asked to drink a large amount of water before the study, to make your bladder full. This is no longer required.

How do I prepare for a pregnancy ultrasound?
No special preparation is needed. See our Preparation for Exams page for more information on pregnancy ultrasound.

At my pregnancy ultrasound, can I learn the sex of my baby?
It is our policy in general not to identify the baby's sex. Often it is difficult to evaluate through ultrasound.

Who does my ultrasound?
We work with highly trained, expert ultrasound technologists. All of these technologists are registered, which means they have special ultrasound training and have passed a national examination.

When will my doctor get the test results?
Our radiologists look at all of your images and compare this study with any of your previous examinations. Our typed report is available to your doctor usually within one day.