Ultrasound scanning is a diagnostic procedure in which very high frequency sound waves (inaudible to the human ear) are passed through the body. These reflected echoes are detected and analysed to build a picture of your internal organs. This ultrasound scanning procedure is painless and safe. It also gives out real-time information to our medical team.

Ultrasound scanning is used to examine soft organs like the liver, gallbladder and the pelvic region to detect any abnormality.

As a soft tissue imaging technique, its advantages are as follows:

1. It is non-invasive and does not usually require special patient preparation. It is simple and convenient and easily accepted by most patients including children.
2. It is safe for the patient and the operator as it does not require ionising radiation. Examinations can be safely repeated as often as the clinical situation demands.
3. It provides information on structural boundaries as it demonstrates anatomy rather than function. Most organs can be investigated and their shape, size, position and spatial relationship can be determined. It enables tissues to be differentiated on the basis of their interaction with ultrasound scanning.
4. Cystic structures may be readily distinguishable from solid ones. It can be used to detect and examine moving structures and the pattern of movement can be determined.
5. The use of ultrasonic doppler technique to study flow patterns in arteries and veins is now well known. It is possible to detect changes in flow speed and direction and thus to evaluate many of the diseases of the arterial and venous system.