Ultrasound
Ultrasound is safe and painless and produces pictures of the inside of the body using sound waves. Ultrasound imaging, also called ultrasound scanning or sonography, involves using a small transducer (probe) and ultrasound gel placed directly on the skin. High-frequency sound waves are transmitted from the probe through the gel into the body. The transducer collects the sounds that bounce back and a computer then uses those sound waves to create an image. Ultrasound examinations do not use ionising radiation as used in X-rays; thus, there is no radiation exposure to the patient. Because ultrasound images are captured in real-time, they can show the structure and movement of the body’s internal organs and blood flowing through blood vessels.
Doppler ultrasound is a special ultrasound technique that evaluates blood flow through a blood vessel, including the body’s major arteries and veins in the abdomen, arms, legs, neck and head (in infants and children).
Source: RadiologyInfo
Is booking required?
Yes
Branches: Greenacres, St Georges, Mercantile, Uitenhage, Port Alfred, Grahamstown and Mangold Imaging Centre (MIC)
Please click here for the location of your nearest branch.
How should I prepare for the procedure?
You should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing for your ultrasound exam. You may need to remove all clothing and jewellery in the area to be examined.
You may be asked to wear a gown during the procedure.
Preparation for the procedure will depend on the type of examination. For some scans your doctor may instruct you 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 before your exam and avoid urinating so that your bladder is full when the scan begins.