Ultrasound

Pelvic Ultrasound

Examines:
 

• In women: the uterus, ovaries and bladder.
• In men: the bladder, seminal vesicles and prostate.
• These investigations are frequently used to assess pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding and menstrual problems in women.
• There are three ways of assessing the pelvis: abdominally, transvaginally and transrectally. If a more detailed examination of the uterus, ovaries and surrounding tissue is required, a special high-resolution transducer (probe) must be inserted into the vagina.

Gynaecological ultrasound

• Enables the diagnosis and monitoring of physiological processes such as pregnancy as well as pathological processes such as infections, cysts, tumours, etc. located in the female reproductive organs.
• Is used when taking biopsies, or when performing amniocentesis, as it enables visualisation of the exact area where the procedure must be performed.
• When ultrasound is used for the study of the female reproductive organs, we call this a gynaecological ultrasound.
• When ultrasound is performed during pregnancy monitoring it is known as an obstetric ultrasound.

Transrectal ultrasound

• The probe is inserted into the rectum and images are obtained from different angles. Measurements are then taken to calculate the weight of the prostate and other possible morphological finding.

 

• If suspicious images are displayed, a fine needle biopsy can be taken during the same investigation. As the prostate image is viewed directly, it is possible to target it accurately, obtaining the biopsy from the correct region.

 

• It is performed for the diagnosis of:
  – Prostate cancer
  – Benign prostatic hyperplasia
  – Acute and chronic prostatitis

Neck ultrasound (thyroid)

• Is used to assess abnormalities of the thyroid and parathyroid glands.

 

• Thyroid ultrasound provides:
  – Clarification of whether nodules are solid, cystic or mixed,
  – Identification of any other non-palpable nodules,
  – Determination of the relationship between neighbouring structures and the presence of lymph nodes.

 

• It is used in the diagnosis of:
  – Thyroid cancer
  – Hypothyroidism
  – Hyperthyroidism
  – Thyroid nodules

Breast ultrasound

• Is complementary to mammography, it allows investigation of nodules and distinguishes between solid and fluid-filled lesions (cysts).
• Is particularly indicated for women with dense breasts, as is the case in young women, as it is more sensitive in finding lesions.
• Enables breast cancers to be detected which are not visible on mammography.
• Is an excellent guiding technique for performance of breast biopsy.

 

• It is performed in the diagnosis of:
  – Breast cancer
  – Breast nodules
  – Breast cysts

Breast ultrasound: recommendations for the patient

• It can be performed without a mammogram beforehand in young or pregnant patients, or when your doctor requests it for a specific reason.
• A mammogram is required beforehand for patients over the age of 40, except in particular situations when stated by your doctor.

• If you have previous ultrasound images which were performed in another centre, you must bring them with you, so that the images can be compared.

Vascular ultrasound

• Is used to assess vascular structures and identify whether abnormalities such as dilatation, narrowing or occlusion are present.
• The most frequently examined vessels are arteries and veins in the: neck, arms and legs.

Osteoarticular ultrasound

Soft Tissue Ultrasound

• Images of the muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints are displayed during this investigation.
• Is used to help diagnose: tendinitis, sprains, muscle tears, early changes from rheumatoid arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, inguinal and abdominal wall hernias, and soft-tissue foreign bodies such as splinters and glass.

Dermatological Colour Doppler Ultrasound (Superficial Soft Tissue)

• High-frequency ultrasound (greater than or equal to 15 MHz) is used as it provides adequate depth and resolution, discriminating between the superficial layers, such as the skin and nails, clearly.
• Colour Doppler ultrasound enables the study of quantity, position, and type of blood vessels (arteries and veins) both within and around lesions, as well as their flow velocity.
• It is a non-invasive investigation, requested in cases such as: haemangiomas or superficial vascular malformations, several types of benign or malignant tumours and inflammatory diseases of the skin and nails.

Doppler US

• Venous Doppler Ultrasound is the most accurate diagnostic test used in the diagnosis of venous pathology.

 

• This technique combines the use of ultrasound and Doppler, enabling the observation of vascular structures and the study of blood flow, providing haemodynamic and morphological data from the venous system.

 

• Is appropriate for:
  – Assessing venous blood flow
  – Measuring the flow velocity
  – Measuring the diameter of the vessel
  – Detecting the presence of atheromatous plaques, inflammatory lesions, stenosis, obstruction etc.

 

• Is used in the diagnosis of:
  – Cerebrovascular accident or stroke
  – Arteriosclerosis
  – Headaches
  – Chronic venous insufficiency (varicose veins)

 

• It is also indicated for monitoring the development of lesions which can occur in the carotid arteries.

Echocardiogram

A complete study of the heart providing the following information:
 

• Shape, size and strength of the heart
• Movement and thickness of the walls of the heart
• Heart valve function
• Information regarding the arteries
• Studies of the blood velocity within the heart chambers

Ultrasound guided injection

• Ultrasound guided injection involves the injection of a drug directly into the affected area, particularly the joints, tendons and bursae.
• Corticosteroids, or other drugs, are generally given to help the recovery process. This procedure is performed under ultrasound guidance to enable injection site precision.