What to expect at your ultrasound appointment
A Novant Health ultrasound supervisor outlines what you need to know
If the word “ultrasound” conjures thoughts of pregnancy, you’re not alone.
“That’s what everyone thinks,” said Heidi Giglio, Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center’s ultrasound supervisor. But monitoring fetal development is just one reason for an ultrasound, a.k.a. sonography.
An ultrasound is noninvasive imaging in which high-intensity sound waves form an image. Unlike with an X-ray, there’s no radiation involved.
“Ultrasound, especially in an acute care facility like a hospital, can be done on just about anything in the body – from the head down to the feet,” Giglio said. “We look at organs, veins, arteries, the brain. The only thing we can’t look at is bone.” Radiologists with Mecklenburg Radiology Associates specialize in interpreting all types of ultrasounds.
In a hospital setting, the most common reasons for an ultrasound have to do with veins and arteries.
Minimal preparation needed
The doctor who orders your ultrasound – or someone from their office – should go over what to expect. If that doesn’t happen, someone will explain everything once you arrive.
Preparations may vary depending on the type of ultrasound you’re having. In general, here’s what Giglio advises:
- Don’t be scared. Ultrasounds should not involve pain or discomfort. “A lot of people are afraid they’ll get claustrophobic,” Giglio said. “That may happen with an MRI – the machine that’s like a big tube – but not with an ultrasound.”
- Wear loose-fitting clothing. You may need to lift your shirt up or remove it for an abdominal ultrasound. If you forget to wear loose clothing, it’s no problem. You can change into a gown the office will provide.
- Ask your doctor if you need to fast. There’s no need for fasting prior to many ultrasounds. But for most abdominal ultrasounds – of the gallbladder or liver, for instance – it’s recommended that you fast for up to six hours. “When we eat, our gallbladders contract,” Giglio said. “And that makes it hard for us to see.”
- Arrive on time. Or even a little early. You won’t be sedated, so – unlike with a screening test like a colonoscopy – you can drive yourself.
- Expect to spend between 15 minutes and 1.5 hours at your appointment. Your doctor can tell you how long yours might take, based on the type of ultrasound ordered.
Don’t expect results immediately. A radiologist with Mecklenburg Radiology Associates will read your ultrasound within one to two business days and contact your doctor’s office with the results. Someone from your doctor’s office will then contact you.
How it works
Giglio said an external ultrasound works just like you’ve seen on TV: “We put gel on a probe and then move it around on your skin.”
The probe is also called a transducer. That device transmits ultrasound waves through the gel and into your body. The probe converts the electrical current into high-frequency sound waves that bounce off the inside of your body and back to the probe. A computer translates the pattern of electrical signals into images or videos, which can be seen on a monitor.
You may not see a radiologist during your visit. An ultrasound tech will perform the ultrasound, which will then be read by a radiologist who then sends a report to your doctor. Then, your doctor contacts you with the results.
An ultrasound may give radiologists exactly what they’re looking for. Or it could indicate more tests – an MRI or a CT scan – are needed.
If your doctor refers you for an ultrasound, there’s no reason for fear. For such a technologically advanced test, it’s surprisingly quick, easy, and pain-free.
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