Ultrasound scanning, often referred to as sonography, is a method that obtains images of internal body organs through the use of high frequency sound waves which are recorded and displayed as images on a monitor. Images are captured in real time and therefore show movement of internal tissue, body organs, blood flows and heart valve functions and the condition of embryo and fetus in pregnant women.

Ultrasound is used to diagnose  multiple body parts to identify palpable masses, fibroids, kidney stones, causes of uterine bleeding and other conditions. Carotid ultrasound may show plaques that narrow the carotid artery and limit the flow of blood to the brain.

Ultrasound is non-invasive and involves no radiation.

Preparation:

Ultrasound of the abdomen requires the  patient to fast 6 hours prior to the examination.  Transabdominal/transvesical ultrasound of the pelvis requires the patient to drink several glasses of water approximately 30-45 minutes before the examination.  Most other ultrasound procedures require no preparation.

Park Avenue Radiologists offers ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration and core biopsy, in addition to MRI and CT-guided biopsy, as medically indicated.

A cytopathologist is at our facility on a weekly basis which ensures tissue sampling adequacy at the time of biopsy. Our experience in ultrasound-guided thyroid biopsy is unsurpassed, given the close cooperation of our pathologist with the radiologists.  We have published some of the largest series of thyroid biopsies available.   Our ultrasound guided biopsy also of course involve breast, liver, and other organ systems.

If you would like additional information on these procedures we recommend visiting the Ultrasound (Sonography) section of RadiologyInfo.org.