Private Abdominal Ultrasound Scans

Ultrasound imaging is a non-ionising and non-invasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. It is safe and painless. It produces pictures of the inside of the body using sound waves. Ultrasound imaging is also called sonography. It uses a small probe called a transducer and gel placed directly on the skin. High-frequency sound waves travel from the probe through the gel into the body. The probe collects the sounds that bounce back. A computer uses those sound waves to create an image. Ultrasound exams do not use radiation (No x-rays). Because ultrasound captures images in real-time, it can show the structure and motion of the body organs. Thanks to new additions as microflow can detect minor inflammations. Ultrasound images of the musculoskeletal system provide pictures of muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, nerves and soft tissues throughout the body.

Abdominal ultrasound is one of the most commonly used imaging modalities to screen and diagnose the abnormalities of the abdominal and pelvic organs. There is no harming X radiation rather it uses sound waves to create images of the body tissues according to their consistency and is considered the safest imaging modality with no known significant harm. Ultrasound waves sent to the body through a small transducer reflect back to the computer to manipulate to create different body organs. Not only used to diagnose but also provides a guide to radiologists to get samples of the diseased organs.

Abdominal ultrasound scans are used to diagnose and monitor a wide range of medical conditions, including gallstones, kidney stones, liver diseases, abdominal pain, and problems with the pancreas or spleen. It is also commonly used to diagnose female gynaecological organs

The list is long but the following are the main areas ultrasound can pick and screen

Liver Ultrasound:

Ultrasound has the ability to diagnose liver lesions such as cancer, cysts and abscesses. It picks up diffuse liver diseases such as fatty liver and checks liver cirrhosis and obstructive causes of jaundice. It not only diagnoses the diseases but is used in monitoring the treatment of the known disease undergoing treatment. It helps to evaluate and clarify the indeterminate lesions seen on CT. It’s used to see the normal and abnormal blood flow patterns in the liver.

Gall bladder ultrasound:

Ultrasound is considered one of the initial and best modalities to detect gall stones, gall bladder inflammation helps to differentiate non-cancerous and cancerous lesions. It’s much commonly used for gall bladder than any other imaging modality.

Pancreas scanning:

Pancreas is an important upper mid-abdominal organ which produces various hormones as insulin to control the body sugar. Ultrasound helps to diagnose pancreatic inflammation, cancers and pancreatic cysts. Occasionally bowel gases can obscure the part of the pancreas but in such circumstances, it still can pick large lesions.

Lymph nodes:

The lymphatic system encompasses the whole body and provides a defence against diseases. If lymph nodes become diseased, it will have an adverse effect to combat various diseases. Ultrasound has the ability to detect abnormal lymph nodes which helps in the early detection of the disease and its treatment. It’s one of the basic tools to monitor blood cancers. Ultrasound is used by radiologists as a guide to take samples of the supposed abnormal lymph nodes.

Spleen Ultrasound scanning:

Ultrasound is an extremely useful tool in identifying splenic cancers, cysts and abscesses. Blood cancers such as lymphoma and leukaemia can have manifestations in the spleen and ultrasound has the ability to detect suspicious lesions. The spleen can get injured during accidents or falls and blood can accumulate in the spleen or between the capsule and spleen known as a subcapsular haematoma.

Radiologists use ultrasound as a guide to get samples of the suspicious lesions and drain the splenic abscess and hematomas.

Ultrasound of the kidneys and urinary bladder :

Ultrasound is widely used to see kidney stones, swelling of the urinary tract and possible suspicious lesions and differentiate possible cancers from simple cysts. It helps interventional radiologists in guiding to take samples of the suspicious lesions and appropriate referral. By ultrasound guidance, radiologists can drain the obstructing kidney system and detect kidney injuries and haematomas.

Abdominal Collection:

Ultrasound is used to find abdominal collections and abscesses in a sick patient. It guides to drain such collections for faster recovery.

Abdominal Wall lesions and Hernias:

Abdominal, inguinal and femoral hernias are detected and well-differentiated with ultrasound. Ultrasound is widely used to detect abdominal wall lipomas, haematomas and abscesses and their drainage.

CT and ultrasound are complementary to each other in the disease diagnosis. As ultrasound does not use radiation so it’s considered safer during pregnancy and childbearing age. Ultrasound is superior to CT due to its ready availability and much better soft tissue evaluation in certain diseases. Monitoring treatment response, Liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, Gall bladder and pelvic organs.

During the procedure, a trained consultant radiologist or technician (sonographer) will apply a gel to your abdominal area and use a handheld device called a transducer to send and receive sound waves. The transducer captures images on a monitor, and these images are used for diagnosis.

For upper abdominal scans especially for gall bladder, we advise 6-8 hours of fasting Water drinking is allowed during this time. For the lower abdomen we advise dinking plenty of water on hour before your appointment to have a full bladder for better visualisation of the bladder, prostate and female pelvic organs. Your healthcare provider or the imaging centre will provide specific instructions based on the purpose of the scan and your medical condition. Please wear loose clothes and take off any jewellery

The duration of the scan can vary but typically lasts around 30 minutes. However, it may take longer if a more detailed evaluation is required.

In upper abdominal scanning you have to fast at least 6 hours and no restrictions for drinking water. Water in stomach provides a good window to evaluate pancreas. Full bladder is better for urinary bladder and ureteric stones.

Full bladder provides good window for the female uterine/ ovarian and prostate evaluation. For water system, prostate and female pelvic scan please start drinking at least 2-3 glasses of water before your scan appointment.

Bowel gas is a hindrance to seeing within the bowel lumen. 

Ultrasound is the preferred modality for acute appendicitis in young adults and childbearing age to avoid CT radiation. Small lesions of the bowel are difficult to detect with ultrasound, but new scanners are eligible to detect moderate-sized lesions.  

Abdominal ultrasound scans can be a useful tool in identifying abnormalities in the abdominal area, but they are not typically used as ultimate method for diagnosing cancer. Additional tests, such as CT, MRI scans or biopsies and specialist referral, may be needed for cancer diagnosis.

Yes, abdominal ultrasound being a safe imaging modality is a basic screening modality. There is no radiation involved as with x rays or CT scans. It uses sound waves to create images, making it a low-risk imaging option, even for pregnant women and children.

Radiologists can go through the scan most of the time. If there is something not clear or indeterminate, the radiologist might ask you to come again or advise further tests or referral for more clarification. 

We operate our clinic from Manor Park Medical Centre, 2 Lerwick Drive, Slough, Berkshire SL1 3XU. Please note we are not part of Manor Park Medical Centre but use the premises.

We have people travel to us from many miles around including Windsor, High Wycombe, Ascot, Marlow, Maidenhead, Uxbridge, West Drayton, Beaconsfield, Hounslow, Richmond, Kensington, Ealing, Wembley, Twickenham, Staines, Northwood, Teddington, Pinner and much of West London.

Book an appointment for a private ultrasound scan at our clinic in Slough