Understanding Your Abdominal Ultrasound Test

Your doctor makes an abdominal ultrasound appointment for you, and there are several reasons why ultrasound is the preferred test - the "gold standard." You may have pain below your ribs and you or your doctor may suspect gall bladder or pancreatic inflammation. Maybe you have Hepatitis C. Or maybe you have pain in your lower back and your doctor wants to check for kidney stones.

"Hepar" is an old Greek word for heart; "hepatitis" means inflammation of the liver (inflammation and swelling). "Pancreatitis" means inflammation of the pancreas. Ultrasound is better than x-ray, CT, or MRI to check for gall bladder, and many times the liver, pancreas, and kidneys too.

Hepatitis C can be managed, and regular ultrasound (or "series") helps resolve it. You can join your healthcare team to protect your health by coming to your ultrasound appointment to monitor changes in your heart and "ahead of the game."

So you're wondering, just what does it say is ultrasound?

Ultrasound does not use radiation, but uses too high a sound wave to hear (it's an "ultra" part). The mobile technologist traces the small of your upper abdomen; Sound waves interact with organ tissue, visually reproducing on the screen what they face inside the body. The area on the image looks bright or dark. These images are a reflection of the echo made by the ultrasound as it passes through your tissue without danger. No negative effect of ultrasound was shown on frequency used in abdominal examination; your technicians are trained to keep you safe. The little probe doesn't hurt because it slides smoothly over your skin. Your technologist will have aseptic gels to place small probes so they can slide and record sound waves accurately. You may be asked to help by holding your breath for a few moments to bring your heart, kidneys, gallbladder, or spleen to a better view.

The liver is a very busy organ, producing bile for digestion, helping break down "old" red blood cells, regulating metabolism, synthesizing proteins, making hormones, and filtering toxins. The liver, kidneys, and pancreas may be damaged by disease or alcohol; The most important type of damage is cirrhosis. In cirrhosis, smooth and healthy liver tissue is replaced by fibrosis (non-functional fibrous tissue), scar tissue, and / or nodules. Ultrasound can show discarded features, nodular appearance of the liver with cirrhosis.

If the liver tissue is damaged, it is used less to achieve its function throughout the body. Therefore, early detection of any changes in liver texture monitors liver health. Your doctor will order blood work every time you go in for your ultrasound to assess your liver function.

In case of bile or coronary artery suspensions, your doctor will order a liver function test, and your son (an ultrasound technician) will ask you to go to several positions and maybe stand or sit, to see if the coral will move when you do so. . Sometimes people have a very large bile that blocks the gall bladder, which is where bile storage is needed to help the liver break down fat and help digestion; sometimes people have small corals. Ultrasound is the best way to detect it.

Together, you and your doctor will determine how and when to plan your diet, exercise, and possible treatments to improve your health and quality of life.

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