What Is An Ultrasound Used For?
When people hear the word “ultrasound,” it is very common to have the thought of babies cross their minds. Pregnancy ultrasounds are used often to monitor the growth of an infant in the womb over time. The use of ultrasounds span way beyond women’s imaging studies. Radiologists can use ultrasound for a wide number of purposes. Here are other reasons why an ultrasound in Voorhees, NJ may be ordered.
Heart & Blood Vessels
A vascular doppler ultrasound is a specialized type of ultrasound that is used to visualize arteries and veins to monitor the health of blood vessels. A vascular doppler ultrasound uses color coded images to measure the speed and direction of blood flow throughout various parts of the body. Commonly, this type of ultrasound is ordered alongside an echocardiogram (2D echo) to help further check on a patient’s overall heart function. A vascular doppler ultrasound can detect several vascular medical conditions such as deep vein thrombosis, chronic venous insufficiency, carotid artery disease, and others.
Thyroid
Ultrasounds can be used to produce high-quality images of the neck where the thyroid gland is located. Palpable nodules are common in older adults and develop on the thyroid gland. Some of these nodules may be cancerous. An ultrasound can help visualize these nodules and determine if further medical intervention is needed.
Breast Cancer
Ultrasounds can be used in combination with other women’s imaging studies such as mammograms and breast MRI scans to detect early forms of breast cancer. A breast ultrasound can be used to gather more information about a mass or cyst. Currently, a 3D mammogram is the best way to detect early forms of breast cancer. In certain situations, a 3D mammogram is not feasible. Patients who are pregnant are unable to have mammograms due to radiation exposure. Women with dense breast tissue should have breast ultrasounds conducted as well. Dense breast tissue can make it difficult for radiologists to detect breast cancer with the use of mammograms. Breast ultrasounds prove to be very helpful in these situations.
Abdominal & Pelvic Structures
If a patient is experiencing ongoing pelvic pain or menstrual issues, an abdominal ultrasound may be ordered to view areas such as the uterus, cervix, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. Pelvic ultrasounds have been proven to be very useful for both men and women. A pelvic ultrasound can identify kidney stones, tumors, or urinary tract conditions. A transvaginal ultrasound may be used to help identify different abnormalities in a women’s reproductive system. A transvaginal ultrasound can identify uterine anomalies, polyps, fibroids, and cancer.
At South Jersey Radiology Associates, our subspecialized radiologists can perform and interpret all forms of ultrasounds. When your physician refers you to get an ultrasound, choose SJRA as your destination to ensure you receive the highest imaging quality possible at up to 60% less than hospital-owned facilities. If you are interested in scheduling an ultrasound, reach out to any of our following locations:
- Cherry Hill Office – Cherry Hill, NJ
- Greentree Office – Marlton, NJ
- Haddonfield Office – Haddonfield, NJ
- Turnersville Office – Turnersville, NJ
- Route 73 Office – Voorhees Township, NJ
- Voorhees Office – Voorhees Township, NJ
- Washington Township Office – Sewell, NJ
- Women’s Center at Cross Keys – Sewell, NJ
- Women’s Center at Voorhees – Voorhees Township, NJ
- Women’s Center at Virtua – Voorhees Township, NJ
- West Deptford Office – West Deptford, NJ
Learn more about the board-certified sub-specialized radiologists who read and interpret studies at SJRA here.