Abdominal ultrasounds are diagnostic imaging tests used to examine the inside of the abdomen. Abdominal ultrasound imaging scans areas such as:

• Liver
• Gallbladder
• Pancreas
• Kidneys
• Bile ducts
• Blood vessels in the abdominal aorta/ inferior vena cava
• Blood flow to the abdominal organs

Abdominal ultrasound machines use transducers that send out high-frequency sound waves into the body. Once these sound waves have bounced off soft tissue and organs in the body, they are converted into images on a computer. After these images are recorded by the technologist (also known as a sonographer), a radiologist examines the images and provides a medical interpretation.

Abdominal ultrasound scans are safe procedures that can detect several conditions and can help doctors diagnose the source of abdominal pain. Some medical conditions that can be detected by a diagnostic ultrasound scan include:

• Kidney stones
• Gallstones
• Cysts
• Abscess (build-up of pus in tissue)
• Tumors
• Blood clots
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm (damaged blood vessel in the arterial wall)
• Liver disease

Ultrasounds are minimally invasive tests that provide a wide range of health information to health care providers. Unlike X-Rays or CT scans, ultrasound scans can show images moving in real-time, giving doctors a firsthand look into the movement of organs and tissue in the body. To study blood moving through blood vessels, doctors may use specialized Doppler ultrasound sonography by pinging sound waves off moving blood cells.

While ultrasounds can detect a tumor, they cannot detail whether or not that tumor is cancerous. Depending on your test results and symptoms, your doctor may request additional testing (like a biopsy), if necessary.

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Before Your Appointment:

You will usually need avoid eating and drinking for 8-12 hours before an ultrasound, to make sure that the stomach and bladder are clear.

When you arrive for your imaging, you may be asked to disrobe and change into a hospital gown. You may be asked to remove any metal or accessories from your body.

During Your Appointment:

As you lie on the examination table, your technologist will apply a gel to your stomach. This gel helps transmit sound waves through the body. Don't worry, the gel is painless and can washed off before you go home.

After lubrication has been applied, the technologist will slide a transducer over your stomach. The transducer reads the sound waves transmitted by the ultrasound machine and sends the data to a computer for interpretation. In many cases, you can see the imaging as it is being recorded by the computer. The ultrasound scan will take about 30 minutes to complete.

After Your Appointment:

The gel will be washed off your stomach, and you can change back into your street clothes. That's it! Your radiologist will interpret the results of the scan, and get in touch within a few days of your ultrasound. Depending on the results of the scan, further diagnostic tests may be needed. Your radiologist will have medical advice for how to proceed if you need treatment or diagnostic imaging.

Abdominal ultrasounds are highly effective and accurate at detecting medical conditions located in the abdominal area. Depending on the condition, these exams can be anywhere from 88%-100% effective. Abdominal ultrasounds are particularly effective at detecting abscesses, cysts, and tumors in the abdominal organs. Ultrasounds are also the primary scan used to check for an abdominal aortic aneurysm - a swelling in the main blood vessel that runs from the heart through the stomach.

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Ultrasounds provide real-time imaging of blood flow and organs in the body.. If your doctor suspects you may have cancerous growth in that area of the body, you may be asked to undergo further testing.

Ultrasounds are safe and extremely accurate. Your doctor can provide medical advice as to whether or not ultrasound is the best type of imaging for you.

The primary difference between an abdominal ultrasound and a CT scan is the use of radiation to create medical imaging. Both abdominal ultrasounds and CT scans are non-invasive imaging techniques that allow doctors to look inside the body. Abdominal ultrasounds record sound waves pinging off organs and blood vessels in the body, while CT scans use ionizing radiation to produce internal images of the body. This means that you will be exposed to radiation during a CT scan. While this amount of radiation is generally safe for most adults, pregnant women and young children are rarely given CT scan tests because of the dangers of exposure.

As for the actual procedure, a CT scan takes less time than ultrasound but is usually more expensive. CT scans can cost anywhere from $1000-$3000 where an ultrasound costs between $100-$1000. A CT scan takes about 5 minutes to complete, with ultrasound scans taking about 10-15 minutes.

CT scans can show bone, soft tissue, and blood vessels in the same image. Ultrasound scans can show soft tissue and masses in the body, but further testing (like a Doppler ultrasound) may be needed for more details. Ultrasounds can detect growths, tumors, and cysts, but cannot determine whether or not these masses are cancerous. Because of this, a doctor may request a biopsy of an area if they suspect cancer cells may be present.

Before you book a diagnostic test, talk to your primary care provider about what type of imaging test is right for you. Ready to book a diagnostic exam? Sesame offers convenient ultrasound imaging appointments {{NearYou}} for affordable cash prices. Sesame works directly with doctors in cities across the country to provide clear, quality care without the expensive overhead you get with insurance networks. Save up to 60% on ultrasound imaging when you book through Sesame- no insurance needed.