Ultrasound - Mayo Clinic
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Print Overview
Diagnostic ultrasound, also called sonography or diagnostic medical sonography, is an imaging method that uses sound waves to produce images of structures within your body. The images can provide valuable information for diagnosing and directing treatment for a variety of diseases and conditions. Most ultrasound examinations are done using an ultrasound device outside your body, though some involve placing a small device inside your body. Products & Services
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Ultrasound is used for many reasons, including to: View the uterus and ovaries during pregnancy and monitor the developing baby's health Diagnose gallbladder disease Evaluate blood flow Guide a needle for biopsy or tumor treatment Examine a breast lump Check the thyroid gland Find genital and prostate problems Assess joint inflammation (synovitis) Evaluate metabolic bone disease More Information
Abdominal aortic aneurysmACL injuryAcute kidney failureAcute liver failureAcute lymphocytic leukemiaAdenomyosisAdult Still's diseaseAlcoholic hepatitisAmbiguous genitaliaAnal cancerAppendicitisArteriosclerosis / atherosclerosisArteriovenous fistulaArthritisAscariasisAtelectasisAutonomic neuropathyBaker cystBladder stonesBlood in urine (hematuria)Breast cancerBreast painBursitisCarotid artery diseaseCerebral palsyCholestasis of pregnancyChronic exertional compartment syndromeChronic kidney diseaseCirrhosisCleft lip and cleft palateClubfootCongenital adrenal hyperplasiaConjoined twinsCystitisDeep vein thrombosis (DVT)Double uterusDown syndromeDuctal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)Endometrial cancerEndometriosisEnlarged breasts in men (gynecomastia)Enlarged liverEpididymitisErectile dysfunctionEye melanomaFibroadenomaFibrocystic breastsFoot dropGalactorrheaGanglion cystGlomerulonephritisGoiterGreenstick fracturesGrowth plate fracturesHamstring injuryHigh blood pressure in childrenHirsutismHurthle cell cancerHydroceleIncompetent cervixInfant refluxInflammatory breast cancerIntussusceptionInvasive lobular carcinomaIron deficiency anemiaIschemic colitisKidney cancerKnee bursitisLipomaLiver cancerLiver diseaseLiver hemangiomaMale breast cancerMammary duct ectasiaMedian arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS)Membranous nephropathyMenstrual crampsMiscarriageMorning sicknessMorton's neuromaMultisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C)Muscle strainsMuscular dystrophyMyelofibrosisNeuroblastomaNonalcoholic fatty liver diseaseOrchitisOsteoporosisOvarian cancerOvarian cystsPainful intercourse (dyspareunia)Pancreatic cancerPatellar tendinitisPelvic inflammatory disease (PID)Peripheral artery disease (PAD)Peyronie's diseasePlacenta previaPlacental abruptionPleurisyPolycystic kidney diseasePolymyalgia rheumaticaPost-vasectomy pain syndromePrecocious pubertyPremature birthPreterm laborProstate cancerPulmonary embolismPyloric stenosisRecurrent breast cancerResidual limb painRetinal detachmentRetinoblastomaRotator cuff injurySacral dimpleSacroiliitisScrotal massesSecondary hypertensionSepsisSolitary rectal ulcer syndromeSpermatoceleSpina bifidaSwollen kneeTakayasu's arteritisTapeworm infectionTesticular cancerThrombophlebitisThyroid cancerThyroid nodulesTorn meniscusToxic hepatitisToxoplasmosisTricuspid atresiaTuberous sclerosisUterine fibroidsUterine prolapseVaricoceleVasculitisWilms' tumorZollinger-Ellison syndromeShow more related information Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic Risks
Diagnostic ultrasound is a safe procedure that uses low-power sound waves. There are no known risks. Ultrasound is a valuable tool, but it has limitations. Sound waves don't travel well through air or bone, so ultrasound isn't effective at imaging body parts that have gas in them or are hidden by bone, such as the lungs or head. Ultrasound may also be unable to see objects that are located very deep in the human body. To view these areas, your health care provider may order other imaging tests, such as CT or MRI scans or X-rays. How you prepare
Most ultrasound exams require no preparation. However, there are a few exceptions: For some scans, such as a gallbladder ultrasound, your care provider may ask that you not eat or drink for a certain period of time before the exam. Others, such as a pelvic ultrasound, may require a full bladder. Your doctor will let you know how much water you need to drink before the exam. Do not urinate until the exam is done. Young children may need additional preparation. When scheduling an ultrasound for yourself or your child, ask your doctor if there are any specific instructions you'll need to follow. Clothing and personal items
Wear loose clothing to your ultrasound appointment. You may be asked to remove jewelry during your ultrasound, so it's a good idea to leave any valuables at home. What you can expect
Before the procedure
Ultrasound of breast cyst Open pop-up dialog box Close Ultrasound of breast cyst
Ultrasound of breast cyst
This ultrasound shows a breast cyst. Ultrasound of liver tumor Open pop-up dialog box Close Ultrasound of liver tumor
Ultrasound of liver tumor
An ultrasound uses sound waves to create an image. This ultrasound shows a noncancerous (benign) liver tumor. Ultrasound of gallstones Open pop-up dialog box Close Ultrasound of gallstones
Ultrasound of gallstones
This ultrasound shows gallstones in the gallbladder. Ultrasound of needle-guided procedure Open pop-up dialog box Close Ultrasound of needle-guided procedure
Ultrasound of needle-guided procedure
These images show how ultrasound can help guide a needle into a tumor (left), where material is injected (right) to destroy tumor cells. Transvaginal ultrasound Open pop-up dialog box Close Transvaginal ultrasound
Transvaginal ultrasound
During a transvaginal ultrasound, your care provider or a medical technician inserts a wandlike device (transducer) into your vagina while you lie on your back on an exam table. The transducer emits sound waves that generate images of your pelvic organs. Before your ultrasound begins, you may be asked to do the following: Remove any jewelry from the area being examined. Remove or reposition some or all of your clothing. Change into a gown. You'll be asked to lie on an examination table. During the procedure
Gel is applied to your skin over the area being examined. It helps prevent air pockets, which can block the sound waves that create the images. This safe, water-based gel is easy to remove from skin and, if needed, clothing. A trained technician (sonographer) presses a small, hand-held device (transducer) against the area being studied and moves it as needed to capture the images. The transducer sends sound waves into your body, collects the ones that bounce back and sends them to a computer, which creates the images. Sometimes, ultrasounds are done inside your body. In this case, the transducer is attached to a probe that's inserted into a natural opening in your body. Examples include: Transesophageal echocardiogram. A transducer, inserted into the esophagus, obtains heart images. It's usually done while under sedation. Transrectal ultrasound. This test creates images of the prostate by placing a special transducer into the rectum. Transvaginal ultrasound. A special transducer is gently inserted into the vagina to look at the uterus and ovaries. Ultrasound is usually painless. However, you may experience mild discomfort as the sonographer guides the transducer over your body, especially if you're required to have a full bladder, or inserts it into your body. A typical ultrasound exam takes from 30 minutes to an hour. Results
When your exam is complete, a doctor trained to interpret imaging studies (radiologist) analyzes the images and sends a report to your doctor. Your doctor will share the results with you. You should be able to return to normal activities immediately after an ultrasound. Clinical trials
Explore Mayo Clinic studies of tests and procedures to help prevent, detect, treat or manage conditions. By Mayo Clinic Staff Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic Doctors & Departments April 30, 2022 Print Share on: FacebookTwitter Show references Andreas A, et al., eds. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology: A Textbook of Medical Imaging. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Jan. 28, 2022. General ultrasound. RadiologyInfo.org. https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/genus. Accessed Jan. 28, 2022. McKenzie GA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Feb. 1, 2022. Related
Abdominal aortic aneurysm ACL injury Acute kidney failure Acute liver failure Acute lymphocytic leukemia Adenomyosis Adult Still's disease Alcoholic hepatitis Ambiguous genitalia Amenorrhea Anal cancer Appendicitis Arteriosclerosis / atherosclerosis Arteriovenous fistula Arthritis Ascariasis Atelectasis Autonomic neuropathy Baker cyst Bladder stones Blood in urine (hematuria) Breast cancer Breast pain Bursitis Cancer Carotid artery disease Cerebral palsy Cholestasis of pregnancy Chronic exertional compartment syndrome Chronic kidney disease Chronic pelvic pain in women Cirrhosis Cleft lip and cleft palate Clubfoot Congenital adrenal hyperplasia Conjoined twins Cystitis Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) Double uterus Down syndrome Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) Ectopic pregnancy Endometrial cancer Endometriosis Enlarged breasts in men (gynecomastia) Enlarged liver Epididymitis Erectile dysfunction Eye melanoma Fetal macrosomia Fibroadenoma Fibrocystic breasts Foot drop Galactorrhea Ganglion cyst Glomerulonephritis Goiter Greenstick fractures Growth plate fractures Hamstring injury High blood pressure in children Hirsutism Hurthle cell cancer Hydrocele Incompetent cervix Infant reflux Inflammatory breast cancer Intussusception Invasive lobular carcinoma Iron deficiency anemia Ischemic colitis Kidney cancer Kidney stones Knee bursitis Lipoma Liver cancer Liver disease Liver hemangioma Male breast cancer Mammary duct ectasia Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) Membranous nephropathy Menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding) Menstrual cramps Miscarriage Molar pregnancy Morning sickness Morton's neuroma Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) Muscle strains Muscular dystrophy Myelofibrosis Neuroblastoma Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease Orchitis Osteoporosis Ovarian cancer Ovarian cysts Painful intercourse (dyspareunia) Pancreatic cancer Patellar tendinitis Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) Peripheral artery disease (PAD) Peritonitis Peyronie's disease Placenta previa Placental abruption Pleurisy Polycystic kidney disease Polymyalgia rheumatica Post-vasectomy pain syndrome Precocious puberty Premature birth Preterm labor Priapism Prostate cancer Pulmonary embolism Pyloric stenosis Recurrent breast cancer Residual limb pain Retinal detachment Retinoblastoma Rheumatoid arthritis Rotator cuff injury Sacral dimple Sacroiliitis Scrotal masses Secondary hypertension Sepsis Soft tissue sarcoma Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome Spermatocele Spina bifida Swollen knee Takayasu's arteritis Tapeworm infection Testicular cancer Thrombophlebitis Thyroid cancer Thyroid nodules Torn meniscus Toxic hepatitis Toxoplasmosis Transvaginal ultrasound Tricuspid atresia Tuberous sclerosis Ultrasound of breast cyst Ultrasound of gallstones Ultrasound of liver tumor Ultrasound of needle-guided procedure Undescended testicle Urinary incontinence Uterine fibroids Uterine prolapse Varicocele Vasculitis Wilms' tumor Zollinger-Ellison syndrome Show more related content Products & Services
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