IMAGING THROUGH SOUND WAVES

Tower Imaging Medical Group Radiologists have a long history of providing excellence in ultrasound imaging, performing expanded ultrasound applications in cardiac, obstetric and vascular areas.

Many different types of ultrasound procedures are performed at Tower Saint John’s Imaging. Some of these include evaluation of the abdomen, including the gallbladder, liver, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, and appendix; the pelvis, including uterus and ovaries; obstetric exams; duplex doppler vascular studies, including leg veins, carotid artery and aorta; breast ultrasound, including evaluation of breast nodules; thyroid; scrotum and pediatric imaging.

Organ biopsies are frequently performed with ultrasound imaging guidance. Tower Imaging routinely performs biopsies of the liver, prostate gland, thyroid gland, breast and lymph nodes.

DEFINING ULTRASOUND

Ultrasound imaging, also known as sonography, is a safe and painless radiology imaging study. Ultrasound utilizes high frequency sound waves, without radiation, to generate images of the internal structures of the body. The reflected sound wave echoes are recorded and displayed as a real-time visual image. Because ultrasound images are captured in real-time, they can show movement of internal tissues and organs, and enable our Radiologists to see blood flow and heart valve functions.

THE ULTRASOUND PROCEDURE

During an ultrasound, you will lie on a comfortable table while a technologist performs the exam. A handheld device, called an ultrasound probe or transducer, will be moved on the surface of the skin in the area of interest after a liquid gel is placed on the probe and/or the skin. For certain ultrasound exams, specialized internal probes are used. For example, an endovaginal probe is used for most pelvic exams to create the most detailed images of the uterus and ovaries.

FOLLOWING AN ULTRASOUND

Once your ultrasound study is complete, one of our Radiologists will interpret the exam and report the findings to your physician. Your physician will contact you to discuss the results of your exam.