Ultrasound Scans: The Complete Guide

💡 Humans can generally hear sounds up to 20KHz pitch, with dogs and cats able to hear up to 40KHz. Most ultrasound scans use much higher frequencies in the megahertz (MHz) range, meaning they are so high-pitched they cannot be heard by humans.

💡 Learn more about the types of ultrasound and the diagnoses they can confirm

• This enables diagnosis of a multitude of conditions, such as gallstones, ectopic pregnancy, carpal tunnel syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome, tennis elbow, liver disease, heart disease, and many more.
• Ultrasounds can be used to determine the composition of a lump, which allows doctors to assess whether it is a cyst or tumour. Cysts are fluid-filled and send back very few echoes, whereas tumours are solid and waves will bounce off of them.
• Ultrasounds can also show whether a tumour is benign or malignant (cancerous) by providing insights into the size, shape and location.

• Diagnostic external ultrasound scans are most commonly used to examine the heart, breasts and abdominal organs that can be assessed through the skin. This also includes the liver, kidneys, spleen, and pancreas.
• Organs that contain air, such as the stomach and bowels, are not generally suited to external ultrasound scans as the air prevents soundwaves from bouncing off the structures to create an image.
• Echocardiograms are a type of external ultrasound used to diagnose and monitor certain heart conditions. A transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) scans the heart and surrounding blood vessels by running the ultrasound probe across the chest. TTEs can help detect damage from a heart attack, heart failure, heart disease, problems with heart valves including infection (endocarditis), and thickened/enlarged heart walls (cardiomyopathy).

• Transvaginal ultrasounds (TVS) are a type of internal ultrasound scan that examine female reproductive organs (e.g. cervix, fallopian tubes, ovaries, uterus) by inserting an ultrasound wand inside the vaginal canal. TVS are used to investigate and diagnose issues associated with pelvic pain, abnormal cervical screening results, cysts and fibroids, and infertility. Possible diagnoses could include pelvic infection, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy and certain types of cancer.
• Transrectal ultrasounds (TRUS) are another form of internal ultrasound most often used to scan the prostate gland, and look for abnormalities in the rectum and other nearby structures. Similar to a TVS, a probe is inserted internally via the rectum to gain a clear view of the prostate, assess its size, any abnormalities, and can be used to diagnose cancer or BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia).

• Endoscopic ultrasounds (EUS) are used to examine areas such as the stomach, throat, oesophagus and lungs. EUS can help investigate sources of abdominal and chest pain, and can help evaluate and diagnose certain types of cancer, Barrett's oesophagus, bile duct stones and pancreatitis.
• Some echocardiograms (scans of the heart) are also carried out via a small probe passed down the throat into the stomach, to gain a view of the heart from internally. These are called transoesophageal echocardiograms (TOE), and they prevent the lungs and ribs from obscuring the images of the heart. TOEs can be used to plan heart surgery, check on the health of heart valves and chambers, and look for issues such as valve disease and congenital heart disease.

• Rather than scanning tissues or organs within the body to create images, Doppler ultrasounds estimate the blood flow through the blood vessels. In this type of scan, the high-frequency sound waves bounce off of the red blood cells that move through your circulatory system, and the changes in frequency are measured and displayed on a graph.
• Doppler ultrasounds are external scans, and the transducer probe is held against the skin over the area of concern. They are a non-invasive alternative to angiography (injecting dye into the blood vessels before an X-ray).
• Diagnoses that can be confirmed with Doppler ultrasounds include blood clots, blocked arteries (occlusion), aneurysms, narrowing of an artery (stenosis), and poorly functioning valves.

• Infections (often indicated by abnormal blood flow in an ultrasound)
• Cardiovascular issues related to the structure of the heart
• Tumours and cysts, including in the breasts
• Reproductive issues, such as fibroids, polycystic ovaries, endometriosis, and others
• Thyroid conditions
• Blockages in organs like the gallbladder
• Abnormalities in the liver and kidneys
• Problems with the prostate

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• Fasting for the 8-12 hours before an abdominal ultrasound
• Avoiding specific fatty foods before a liver, pancreas or spleen scan
• Drinking a lot of water and not using the toilet in the run-up to your scan, so that you have a full bladder for pelvic ultrasounds
• Wearing comfortable and easily removable clothing, so that you can easily lift/lower your clothes, or change into a hospital gown as required
• Telling your consultant about any medication you are taking, and asking any questions you might have before the scan

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