Diagnostic Ultrasound

Diagnostic ultrasound is a noninvasive imaging procedure where sound waves produce pictures of your internal organs and tissues. Experienced sonographer Joyce Morris, RVT, and her colleagues at JerBear Imaging in Brownwood, Texas, specialize in ultrasound. They use cutting-edge techniques to identify soft tissue masses, blood flow disorders, and many other problems. Call JerBear Imaging or request a diagnostic ultrasound appointment online today.

What is diagnostic ultrasound?

Diagnostic ultrasound is a tool health care professionals use to determine the cause of your symptoms. During an ultrasound exam, Joyce uses a transducer (handheld device) that transmits high-frequency sound waves into the tissues.

You can’t hear the sound and won’t feel it, but it bounces back off your internal organs, tissues, and fluids. The transducer’s sensitive receiver records all the minute changes in sound wave volume, speed, and direction, relaying them to the ultrasound machine’s computer.

Specialized software takes the information provided by the transducer and displays it as real-time images on a computer screen. The images create a video showing the organs and fluids moving. Joyce saves the video and several still frames for analysis.

When might I need a diagnostic ultrasound?

Your doctor might recommend an ultrasound to help diagnose various conditions or assess organ function. Symptoms that ultrasound can diagnose include pain, swelling, and inflammation affecting organs such as the:

• Liver
• Gallbladder
• Pancreas
• Kidneys
• Spleen
• Bladder
• Scrotum and testicles
• Uterus and ovaries
• Eyes
• Thyroid and parathyroid glands
• Heart
• Blood vessels

Ultrasound is also an essential procedure for pregnant women to determine if the fetus is developing correctly and can identify problems in an infant’s brain, joints, and spine.

Are there different types of diagnostic ultrasound?

The most common procedure is abdominal ultrasound. This is where the transducer passes over your abdomen to produce images of your organs (or the fetus if you’re pregnant). Other diagnostic ultrasounds include:

Doppler ultrasound

Doppler ultrasound evaluates blood movement through your arteries, veins, and heart.

Transvaginal ultrasound

A wand-shaped transvaginal transducer goes into the vagina, creating clear images of lower pelvic organs, including the uterus, cervix, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and bladder.

Transrectal ultrasound

Transrectal ultrasound provides a clear view of the prostate gland.

Transthoracic echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)

A standard echocardiogram is similar to an abdominal ultrasound, except the transducer goes on your chest to capture images of the heart. 

Transesophageal echocardiogram

During this specialized echocardiogram, the wand-shaped transducer goes down your esophagus to obtain clear images of the heart and its arteries.

Ultrasound is also available as an elective procedure to produce 3D and 4D images of a growing fetus.

Most ultrasounds take 30 minutes or less, but specialized exams can last up to 60 minutes.

Call JerBear Imaging to learn more about diagnostic ultrasound or request a consultation using the online booking feature today.