Color-Flow Doppler Ultrasound - General, Abdominal, OB and Vascular Studies

• Abdominal (Transabdominal Imaging)
• Gynecological (Pelvic/Transvaginal Ultrasound)
• Obstetrical (OB)
• Breast
• Shoulder
• Small Parts; Testicular, Thyroid, Wrist
• Foot, Joint, Musculoskeletal
• Carotid Doppler
• Lower Extremity Venous Doppler

Ultrasound imaging is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. Also called ultrasound scanning or sonography, an ultrasound is a procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce pictures of what is inside your body.

Because the ultrasound images are captured in real time, they can show the structure and movement of the body’s internal organs, as well as blood flowing through blood vessels.

Because the body contains over 90% water, sound can be used in some parts of the body just as sonar is used in the ocean. Each time the sound hits a tissue interface, like a blood vessel, an echo is sent back. Computers can use these echoes to create a picture of your internal organs. This results in a very detailed examination, which aids the physician in his or her diagnosis.

At Consulting Radiologists Corporation, we use Color Doppler Ultrasound. This is a a special ultrasound technique that evaluates and measures blood as it flows through a blood vessel, including the body’s major arteries and veins in the abdomen, arms, legs and neck. A computer then converts measurements into an array of colors to visualize the speed and direction of blood flow through the blood vessel.

Common Uses of the Procedure
Ultrasound is often used to help physicians evaluate symptoms including pain, infection and swelling. It is also a way of examining the body’s internal organs, including the heart and blood vessels, liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, bladder, eyes, scrotum (testicles), thyroid glands, uterus, and ovaries. The most well-known use of the ultrasound exam is to view the fetus of a patient that is pregnant.

Ultrasound is also used to image the breasts and to guide biopsy of breast cancer; Guide procedures such as needle biopsies, in which needles are used to extract sample cells from an abnormal area for laboratory testing; and diagnose a variety of heart conditions and to assess damage after a heart attack or other illness.

Doppler ultrasound images can also help a physician to see and evaluate: blockages to blood flow (such as clots); Narrowing of vessels (which may be caused by plaque); and tumors and/or congenital malformations.

How Should I Prepare?
Preparation depends on the type of ultrasound examination you will be having. For some scans you may be instructed not to eat or drink for as many as 12 hours before your appointment. For others you may be asked to drink up to six glasses of water two hours prior to your exam and avoid urinating so that your bladder is full when the scan begins.
Your physician will give you instructions on how to prepare for your specific exam. It is important to follow these instructions to ensure the most accurate diagnostic results.

Who Interprets The Results And How Do I Get Them?
A radiologist, a physician specifically trained to supervise and interpret radiology examinations, will analyze the images and send a signed report to your referring physician, who will share the results with you. In some cases the radiologist may discuss results with you at the conclusion of your exam.