Ultrasound Scanning

An Ultrasound scan generates images of the body under investigation using sound waves of a frequency above the audible range of the human ear. A small hand-held probe called a transducer which is pressed carefully against the skin surface, generates sound waves and detects any echoes reflected back off the surfaces and tissue boundaries of internal organs. The probe can be moved over the skin to view the organ from different angles, the images generated are displayed on a screen and recorded for subsequent study. Most people think that this type of scan is only used for examining the unborn child but its use is widespread for various patient conditions. Ultrasound scans do not use ionising radiation to create an image.

Ultrasound images complement other forms of scans and are widely used for many different parts of the body. They can also be used to study blood flow and to detect any narrowing or blockage of blood vessels, for example, in the neck. Biopsies and pain relief injections can also be performed using Ultrasound for guidance. Contrast media( x-ray dye) may also be used during Ultrasound by the Consultant Radiologist to enhance the scan.

An Ultrasound scan may also be used for intimate examinations; for example, of the prostate gland or testes in men or the breast, womb or ovaries in women.

Nelson Radiology perform Ultrasound scans using the highest quality scanners, and due to images appearing on the screen instantly the Consultant Radiologist is able to give you a verbal result/report during the scan, which will be subsequently typed up and sent to the person who referred you.