What is ultrasonography (ultrasound)?
Why would I need ultrasound?
Doctors may use ultrasound to find growths in your neck, breasts, groin, arms, or legs. Ultrasound can help tell the difference between a cyst (fluid-filled sac) and a solid tumor. An ultrasound can also show problems with organs in your belly, hip (pelvic) area, and chest, such as:
If doctors need to take a sample of a tumor or other growth, they can use ultrasound to help guide them.
If you're pregnant, doctors will often do ultrasound to see how your baby is growing and developing.
Special types of ultrasound for heart and blood vessel problems
What happens during an ultrasound?
Before the test
During the test
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You'll lie on a table
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Doctors put a gel on your skin over the body part they want to see
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They'll glide a small, hand-held device across your skin
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The device sends sound waves into your body and records how the sound waves bounce off your internal organs
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The sound waves are so high-pitched you can't hear them
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A computer turns the sound waves into a still picture or a movie of the inside of your body
For some tests, doctors may insert the device into your body—for example, into your vagina to get pictures of your womb when you're pregnant, or into your rear end to get pictures of your prostate gland to look for cancer.
