An ultrasound scan uses high frequency sound waves to create images of the inside of the body. The sound waves bounce off organs and tissues and their echoes are picked up by a probe and turned into moving images on a screen. Ultrasound scans can be used to examine many internal organs and structures, detect abnormalities, and monitor fetal development during pregnancy. They provide information to help diagnose health issues without exposing patients to radiation.

1. The Scan Clinic
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2. Letsbreakitdown!
An ultrasound scan is a painless test that provides
images of the inside of the body using high
frequency sound waves.

3. These sound waves are at a frequency which
cannot be heard by the human ear but when they
bounce off different parts of the body, create
echoes that are picked up by the probe and turned
into a moving image.

4. High frequencies provide better images but they
are unable to penetrate as deeply as lower
frequencies. On the other hand low frequencies
are able to penetrate deeper into the body but the
image is not high in quality

5. Ultrasound images provide information about the
structures within the body. Increasingly ultrasound
has become a common test to assist healthcare
professionals to either determine a diagnosis, screen
for specific problems or as a guide during
interventional procedures such as a biopsy.

6. There are many kinds of ultrasound scan that can be performed. Each
scan either looks at a different aspect of your body, such as a pelvis scan
which looks at the pelvic organs, or is performed during a specific period
in time such as an early pregnancy scan looking at the development of a
fetus to assess viability.
Scans can be used to asses many organs such as the liver, kidneys, pelvis,
skin, soft tissues, muscles and joints however due to the physics of sound
it can not look at very dense structures such as bone.
Sometimes health professionals need to look more closely inside the
body at the organs therefore an internal scan may be appropriate. This
type of scan is commonly used to examine the prostate gland, ovaries or
womb and is carried out by a special endoscopic type of ultrasound probe
which is passed into the body.
Common problems detected during a scan include gallstones, kidney
stones, polycystic ovaries, fibroids, muscle tears and prostate
enlargement to name a few.

7. Ultrasound also has many uses during pregnancy,
such as monitoring the growth of a baby or
babies, determining due dates, ruling out ectopic
pregnancy and screening for specific structural
abnormalities such as cleft lip. Unfortunately due
to it's limitations however it can not detect all
fetal abnormalities and sometimes although
specific abnormalities may have the potential to
be detected, are not picked up due to limitations
such as BMI, gestational age or size and position of
the baby.

8. Recently non-diagnostic ultrasound has also been
increasingly used during pregnancy for purposes
such as maternal bonding, gender & 4D scanning
(used to view a baby in three-dimensional space).

9. Ultrasound scans therefore have numerous
applications in healthcare and ultimately are
beneficial to us if used in the right context by a
competent body or person. However as with any
test, ultrasound scans have limitations some of
which are generic to all scans such as not being
able to visualise bone clearly or scan specific and
therefore may not be suitable in certain situations.

10. Abdominal ultrasound: To visualise the anatomy
and pathology of the liver , gallbladder, bile
ducts, spleen, kidneys, pancreas.
Pelvic ultrasound: To assess the prostate,
urinary bladder, reproductive organs, adnexal
masses, vascular structures, lymph nodes.
Obstetric ultrasound: To assess the fetus and
related structures in pregnant women.

11. Small parts ultrasound: Thyroid, scrotum,
breast, soft tissue and many more small
structures.
Cardiovascular ultrasound including
echocardiography: To assess the heart and
peripheral vascular structures.
Transfontanelle ultrasound: To visualise the
intracranial structures before the closure of the
fontanelles in paediatric patients or through
boreholes.
Intraluminal Ultrasound: To assess
gastrointestinal tract and the blood vessels.

12. Ultrasound is considered very safe worldwide with
minimal known adverse effects and no radiation
exposure (World Health Organization)

13. You may need to prepare for a scan and if you do,
this will be explained to you prior to your
appointment. For example, if your pelvis, kidney
or bladder are to be scanned, you may be required
to ensure that your bladder is full before the
examination can begin. Any preparation advised is
important and should be adhered to as it aims to
maximise the potential visualisation of the
structures being examined and therefore achieve
greater diagnostic capability.

14. You will be cared for by a small team and seen by a
healthcare professional who specialises in clinical
medical ultrasound. As ultrasound is "real time"
imaging the quality of the scan and ultimately the
information you take away depends upon the
expertise & skill of the person scanning you. This is
an important point for consideration hence why at
The Scan Clinic you will always see an expert who
has vast expertise and experience in the field of
medical ultrasound.

15. During the scan you may be asked questions about
your health and in particular your current
symptoms and may also be examined.
Generally you will be invited to sit or lie down on a
couch and requested to expose the area where
the scan will be performed. The lights in the room
may be dimmed so that the images on the
monitor are clearer. A water based gel will be
applied to your skin over the area to be examined,
for example the abdomen.

16. The gel allows the sensor to slide easily over the
skin and helps produce clearer
images. Sometimes you will be on your back or
you may be asked to turn on your side, lie flat on
your stomach or stand up during the examination.
The positions will vary depending upon the
scan. You may be asked to take deep breaths and
to hold your breath for a few moments. The
clinician will move the probe over your skin while
viewing the images on the screen. Upon
completion, the gel can be wiped off and you will
be free to get dressed.

17. The process of carrying out a scan usually takes
around 15-20 minutes however this can vary
depending on the type of scan or procedure being
performed.

18. The price of a scan will vary and is dependent on
many factors. In the UK scan costs can vary
considerably and is some clinics cost well over
£600.
The Scan Clinic however believes in affordable
healthcare and our services will not break the
bank!

19. Browse our site further to explore the scans &
services we have to offer or if you would like more
information please contact and we will be happy
to assist.
http://thescanclinic.co.uk/