Cardiac Imaging

What is a Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (MPI) test?
MPI is a non-invasive imaging test that shows how well blood flows through your heart muscle. It can show areas of the heart muscle that aren’t getting enough blood flow. This test is often called a nuclear stress test. It can also show how well the heart muscle is pumping.
This test is useful in patients with chest discomfort to see if this comes from lack of blood flow to the heart muscle caused by narrowed or blocked heart arteries (angina). MPI doesn’t show the arteries themselves, but can tell the doctor with good certainly if any heart arteries are blocked and how many. MPI can also show if you have previously had a heart attack.
Depending on circumstances, for example if the MPI is abnormal, the next step may be performing a Coronary Angiogram. On the other hand, if the MPI study is normal, we can confidentially look into the causes of chest pain aren’t related to the heart.
How does a MPI test help the doctor?

• Find out if there are narrowing or blockages in your coronary arteries, if you have any chest discomfort;
• If you have heart damage from a heart attack
• Determine if you should undergo to a coronary angiogram;
• Decide whether you would benefit from a coronary stent or bypass surgery;
• Confirm that the stent or bypass surgery was successful;How your heart can handle physical activity.

What are the risk on a MPI test?
If you are pregnant, you need to tell before the test;
How do I prepare for a MPI test?
• Bring comfortable clothes and shoes.
• Some medication for the High Blood Pressure (beta-blockers) need to be stopped before the test.
What happen after my MPI test?
After the test, you can go back to normal activities.
Make appointment with your doctor to discuss the result of the test.
QUICK FACTS:

• An MPI test examines blood flow through your heart during exercise, on a treadmill or with medication (dobutamine/adenosine) to increase the blood flow to your heart muscle.
• The test uses radioactive material called tracers. This ones mix with your blood and are taken up by your heart muscle as the blood flows though your heart arteries.
• The “gama” camera take pictures of your heart to show how well your heart muscle is perfused (supplied with blood)
• The amount of radiation you get from a MPI test is small (less than a x-ray or CT-Scan).

A lung scan is a nuclear scanning test that is most commonly used to detect a blood clot that is preventing normal blood flow to part of a lung (pulmonary embolism).
Two types of lung scans are usually done:

• Ventilation scan. During a ventilation scan, a radioactive tracer gas is inhaled into the lungs. Pictures from this scan can show areas of the lungs that are not receiving enough air or that retain too much air. Areas of the lung that retain too much air show up as bright or “hot” spots on the pictures. Areas that are not receiving enough air show up as dark or “cold” spots.
• Perfusion scan. During a perfusion scan, a radioactive tracer substance is injected into a vein in the arm. It travels through the bloodstream and into the lungs. Pictures from this scan can show areas of the lungs that are not receiving enough blood. The tracer is absorbed evenly in areas of the lung where the blood flow is normal. These areas show up with the tracer distributed evenly. Areas that are not receiving enough blood show up as cold spots.

If the lungs are working normally, blood flow on a perfusion scan matches air flow on a ventilation scan. A mismatch between the ventilation and perfusion scans may indicate a pulmonary embolism.
Ventilation and perfusion scans can be done separately or together to diagnose certain lung diseases. If both scans are done, the test is called a V/Q scan. In this case, the ventilation scan is usually done first.

Indications of a renal scan with Captopril
A captopril renal scan is used to evaluate for the presence of renal stenosis and renovascular hypertension. This captopril scan is performed in order to rule out renal artery stenosis in patients with high blood pressure.
Preparation
for all captopril scans it is important that you are well hydrated before the exam. You will need to drink at least one liter of fluid in the hour before your appointment. However, it is also important that you do not eat at least four hours prior to the captopril test. Some medications need to be stopped prior to the exam, such as angiotensin II blockers and ace inhibitors.
Procedure
before or during the renal scan with captopril you will be given captopril either orally or Enaloprilate intravenously. after the captopril is administrated you will lie down under a gamma camera and your blood pressure and pulse will be monitored every 15 min for one hour. An IV injection os a small amount of radiotracer will be given. The radiotracer will go to the kidneys dependent of function and blood flow. During the captopril renal scan, you will be imaged with the camera under the table for approximately thirty minutes. very rarely would you need to come back later for delay pictures which last approximately 5 to 10 min.

What is a renal scan with Blood Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)
A renal scan shows how your blood flows to your kidney and compares how your right and left kidneys are working. How well your blood flows through your kidneys is called the glomerular filtration rate or GFR.
To give us an idea of your GFR, we will need to take a blood sample from you when start the test. We also take a sample 1 hour after you are injected with a radioactive tracer and again 3 hours after.
How do I prepare for the test?
-Bring a complete list of medication thata you are taking.

• For women- if there are any changes or you are pregnant, please tell the technologist before they start the test. You will need to stop breastfeeding for 24 hours after this test.

What can you expect?

• A technologist weighs you and takes your height,
• We ask you to drink 3 to 4 glasses of water in 20 min. You can empty your bladder any time you want during that time.
• We take a sample of your bloo.
• You lie down on a scan bed and we inject a small amount of radioactive tracer into a vein in your arm or hand.
• The scan starts right after you are injected. It takes about 20 min.
• We ask you to empty your bladder and return for 2 more images. This takes about 5 min.
• one hour after you are injected, the technologist takes another sample of your blood. You can get up and walk around after they take the sample.
• 3 hours after you are injected, the technologist takes another sample of blood. After that you can go home.

Side effects- None. You can go back to your normal activities once the test is done.

Radioactive Iodine I-131 (also called Radioiodine I-131) therapy is a treatment for an overactive thyroid, a condition called hyperthyroidism.
The thyroid is a gland in the neck that produces two hormones that regulate all aspects of the body’s metabolism, the process of converting food into energy. When a thyroid gland is overactive, it produces too much of these hormones, accelerating the body’s metabolism. Symptoms of this condition include an enlarged thyroid gland, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, weight loss in spite of increased appetite and less tolerance for a warm environment.
Radioactive iodine (I-131) is an isotope created from iodine to emit radiation for medical use. When a small dose of I-131 is swallowed, it is absorbed into the bloodstream in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and concentrated from the blood by the thyroid gland, where it begins destroying the gland’s cells. This treatment causes thyroid activity to slow considerably and in some cases, may turn an overactive thyroid into an underactive thyroid requiring additional treatment.
Radioactive iodine I-131 may also be used to treat Graves’ disease, goiter, thyroid nodules, and thyroid cancer.

A thyroid scan uses a radioactive tracer and a special camera to measure how much tracer is absorbed from the bloodstream by the thyroid gland. During a thyroid scan, the camera takes pictures of the thyroid gland from three different angles. The radioactive tracer used in this test is usually iodine or technetium.
A thyroid scan is done to diagnose problems with the thyroid gland. A thyroid scan may be done to evaluate thyroid nodules, or it may be done along with a radioactive iodine uptake test (RAIU) to evaluate thyroid function.
A thyroid scan can show the size, shape, and position of the thyroid gland. It can also detect areas of the thyroid gland that are overactive or underactive.
Another type of thyroid scan, a whole-body thyroid scan, may be done for people who have had thyroid cancer that has been treated.

What is a thyroid scan?
A thyroid scan is a specialized imaging procedure for examining your thyroid, the gland that controls your metabolism. It’s located in the front part of your neck.
Typically, the scan works with nuclear medicine to evaluate the way your thyroid functions.
A radioactive material called a radioisotope, or radionuclide “tracer”, given to you before the test. You may get it through an injection, a liquid, or a tablet. The tracer releases gamma rays when it’s in your body. A gamma camera or scanner can detect this type of energy from outside the body.
The camera scans your thyroid area. It tracks the tracer and measures how your thyroid processes it. The camera works with a computer to creates images that detail the thyroid’s structure and function based on how it interacts with the tracer.

What is a bone scan?
A bone scan is an imaging test used to help diagnose problems with your bones. It safely uses a very small amount of a radioactive drug called a radiopharmaceutical.
Specifically, a bone scan is done to reveal problems with bone metabolism. Bone metabolism refers to the process in which bones break down and rebuild themselves. New bone formation is part of the healing process when bones are injured or broken. A bone scan is a good way to view and document abnormal metabolic activity in the bones.
A bone scan can also be used to determine whether cancer has spread to the bones from another area of the body, such as the prostate or breast.
During a bone scan, a radioactive substance is injected into a vein that is taken up by your bones. You’ll then be monitored for several hours. A very small amount of radiation is used in the substance, and nearly all of it is released from your body within two or three days.
Why is a bone scan performed?
Your doctor may order a bone scan if they think you have a problem in your bones. A bone scan also help find the cause of any unexplained bone pain you are experiencing.
Bone scans may reveal bone problems associated with the following conditions:

• arthritis;
• avascular necrosis (when bone tissue dies toa a lack of blood supply)
• bone cancers
• cancer that has spread to the bone from other parts of the body
• fibrous dysplasia( a condition that causes abnormal scar-like tissue to drow in place of normal bone)
• fractures
• infection involving the bone
• Paget’s disease of the bone (a disease that causes weak, deformed bones)

What are the risks of a bone scan ?
A bone scan carries no greates rick than a conventional x-Rays. The tracers in the radioactive substance used in a bone scan produce very little radiation exposure. the risk of having an allergic reaction to this tracers is really low.
however the test may be unsafe for pregnant or breastfeading women. There is a risk of injury to the fetus and of contaminating breast milk. Make sure you teel the tecnitian if you are pregnant or breastfeading.
How do i prepare for a bone scan?
A bone scan requires no special preparation. Before the scan, the tecnitian will ask you to take off jewelry with metal, including body piercings.
How is the bone scan performed?
The procedure begins with an injection of radioactive substance in your vein. The substance is then allowed to work its way through your body for the next two to four hours. Depending on the reason for the bone scan, your docotr may begin imaging imediate.
As the substance distribute through your body,  the bone’s cells naturally gravitate to areas that are being damage. the substance’s radioactive tracers follow these cells and collect in spots where bone is damaged. it’s taken up in regions that have a high blood flow.
after 1 to 3 hours, the technician will use a special camera to scan the bones. The damage areas-where the substance has settled- appear as dark spots on the image.
What do the resuls mean?
Test results are considered normal when the radioactive substance is spread evenly throughout the body. this means that you likely dont have a major bone problem.
results are considered abnormal when the scan shows darker “hot spots” or lighter ” cold spots” in the bones. Hot spots describe places where an excess of radioactive substance has colected. Cold spots, on the other hand, are areas where it didn’t collect ar all. Abnormal results can indicate that you have a bone disorder, such as cancer or arthritis or infection in the bone.

What is the Nuclear HIDA?
A Nuclear HIDA (gallbladder) scan is a test that is done to evaluate gallbladder function. It can detect blockage in the tubes (bile ducts) that lead from the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine (duodenum). During a nuclear HIDA scan, a radioactive tracer substance is injected into a vein in the arm. The liver removes the tracer from the bloodstream and adds it to the bile that normally flows through the bile ducts to the gallbladder. The gallbladder then releases the tracer into the beginning of the small intestine. The scanning pictures are taken as the tracer moves through the liver, bile ducts, gallbladder, and duodenum.
What are some commom uses of the procedure?
Physicians perform hepatobiliary imaging to evaluate disorders that affect liver cells, the ducts of the biliary system and the gallbladder.
Hepatobiliary immaging is also used to help diagnose symptoms such as:

• abdominal pain that may be caused by a sudden inflammation of the gallbladder called cholecystitis;
• pain or fever following surgery on the gallbladder or the upper gastrointestinal tract
• biliary atresia in newborns, a blockage in the ducts that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder.

IS preparation needed?
Women should always inform their physician or techonologist if there is any possibility of being pregnant or if they are breastfeeding.
The Technologist should know the medication that you are taken, including vitamins and herbal suplements. You should also inform if you have any allergies and about recent illness or other medical conditions.
jewellery and other metallic accessories should be left at home if possible, or removed prior to the exam because they may interfere wth the procere.
You should not eat or drink for at least 4 hours before the exam.
Risks?
A HIDA scan carries a few risks. they include:

• allergic reaction to medications containing radioactive tracers used for the scan
• bruising at the injection site
• radiation exposure, wich is small

What to expect during the procedure?
The technologist will position you on a table, usually on your back, and inject the radioactive tracer into a vein in your arm. you might feel pressure or a cold sensation while the tracer is injected.
During the test, you may get an intravenous injection

What is An Echocardiogram?
An echocardiogram is a non-invasive, safe and effective test to study the anatomy of the heart. It uses sound waves (ultrasound) to form images of the structures of the heart. The ultrasound and electrocardiography (ECG) signals are recorded on a videotape simultaneously to be reviewed by the cardiologist. The test can evaluate the size of the different chambers of the heart, the quality of the valves, measure the heart’s pumping ability and identify other problems of the heart that may increase a person’s risk for dangerous arrhythmias.
Preparation – There are no special preparations to do an Echocardiogram. On the day of the echocardiogram, eat and drink as you normally would. Take all of your medications at the usual times, as prescribed by your doctor.
Duration – 20 to 30 minutes.

What is a Myocardial Contrast Echocardiogram?
Myocardial contrast echocardiogram (MCE) can detect capillary blood volume and, by virtue of its temporal resolution, can also assess MBF. This imaging technique of ‘destruction (or depletion) and replenishment’ requires the delivery of a series of high-energy ultrasound pulses to destroy (deplete) microbubbles in the myocardium. Ultrasound imaging is then continued either intermittently (during high-power imaging) or continuously (during low-power imaging) to observe contrast intensity and microbubble velocity.
Preparation – There are no special preparations to do a Myocardial Contrast Echocardiogram. On the day of the echocardiogram, eat and drink as you normally would. Take all of your medications at the usual times, as prescribed by your doctor.
Duration – 20 to 30 minutes.

What is a Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE)?
A standard echocardiogram or Echo is obtained by applying a transducer to the front of the chest. The ultrasound beam travels through the chest wall (skin, muscle, bone, tissue) and lungs to reach the heart. Because it travels through the front of the chest or thorax a standard echocardiogram is also known as a TRANSTHORACIC echo.
At times, closely positioned ribs, obesity, and emphysema may create technical difficulties by limiting the transmission of the ultrasound beams to and from the heart. In such cases, your physician may select to get a transesophageal echo, where the echo transducer is placed in the esophagus or food pipe that connects the mouth to the stomach. Since the esophagus sits behind the heart, the echo beam does not have to travel through the front of the chest, avoiding many of the obstacles described above. In other words, it offers a much clearer image of the heart, particularly, the back structures, such as the left atrium, which may not be seen as well by a standard echo taken from the front of the heart. This is shown in the picture above (right).
Preparation – Before a Transesophageal Echocardiogram, tell your doctor if you have any problems with your esophagus, such as hiatal hernia, swallowing problems, or cancer.
On the day of a Transesophageal Echocardiogram, do not eat or drink anything for six hours before the test. Take all of your medications at the usual times, as prescribed by your doctor. If you must take medication before the test, take it with a small sip of water.
If you have diabetes and take medication or insulin to manage your blood sugar, please ask your doctor or the testing center for specific guidelines about taking your diabetes medications before the test.
Someone should come with you to your appointment to take you home, as you should not drive until the day after the test. The sedation given during the test causes drowsiness, dizziness, and impairs your judgment, making it unsafe for you to drive or operate machinery.
Duration – 30 to 45 minutes.

What is Carotid Doppler Ultrasound?
A carotid Doppler is an imaging test that uses ultrasound to examine the carotid arteries located in the neck. This test can show narrowing or possible blockages due to plaque buildup in the arteries due to coronary artery disease.
Preparation – There are no special preparations to do a Carotid Doppler. On the day of the echocardiogram, eat and drink as you normally would. Take all of your medication at the usual Times, As Prescribed By Your Doctor.
Duration – 20 to 30 minutes.

What is a Doppler Ultrasound?
A Doppler ultrasound test uses reflected sound waves to evaluate blood as it flows through a blood vessel. It helps doctors evaluate blood flow through the major arteries and veins of the arms, legs, and neck. It can show blocked or reduced blood flow through narrowing in the major arteries of the neck that could cause a stroke. It also can reveal blood clots in leg veins (deep vein thrombosis, or DVT) that could break loose and block blood flow to the lungs (pulmonary embolism).
During Doppler ultrasound, a handheld instrument (transducer) is passed lightly over the skin above a blood vessel. The transducer sends and receives sound waves that are amplified through a microphone. The sound waves bounce off solid objects, including blood cells. The movement of blood cells causes a change in pitch of the reflected sound waves (called the Doppler effect). If there is no blood flow, the pitch does not change. Information from the reflected sound waves can be processed by a computer to provide graphs or pictures that represent the flow of blood through the blood vessels. These graphs or pictures can be saved for future review or evaluation.
The four types of Doppler ultrasound are:

• “Bedside” or continuous wave Doppler. This type uses the change in pitch of the sound waves to provide information about blood flow through a blood vessel. The doctor listens to the sounds produced by the transducer to evaluate the blood flow through an area that may be blocked or narrowed. This type of ultrasound can be done at the bedside in the hospital to provide a rapid estimate of the extent of blood vessel damage or disease.
• Duplex Doppler. Duplex Doppler ultrasound uses standard ultrasound methods to produce a picture of a blood vessel and surrounding organs. In addition, a computer converts the Doppler sounds into a graph that provides information about the speed and direction of blood flow through the blood vessel being evaluated.
• Color Doppler. Color Doppler uses standard ultrasound methods to produce a picture of a blood vessel. In addition, a computer converts the Doppler sounds into colors that are overlaid on the image of the blood vessel and that represent the speed and direction of blood flow through the vessel.
• Power Doppler. Power Doppler is a newer ultrasound technique that is up to five times more sensitive in detecting blood flow than color Doppler. Power Doppler can obtain some images that are difficult or impossible to obtain using standard color Doppler. However, power Doppler is most commonly used to evaluate blood flow through vessels within solid organs. Blood flow in individual blood vessels is most commonly evaluated by combining color Doppler with duplex Doppler. Together, they are able to provide better information on the direction and speed of blood flow than when these techniques are used individually.

Preparation

• There are no special preparations to do an Arterial Doppler. On the day of the echocardiogram, eat and drink as you normally would. Take all of your medications at the usual times, as prescribed by your doctor.
• There are no special preparations to do a Venous Doppler. If you’re a smoker, your doctor may ask you to stop smoking for several hours before the test. Smoking causes your blood vessels to narrow, which can affect the results of your test. On the day of the echocardiogram, eat and drink as you normally would. Take all of your medications at the usual times, as prescribed by your doctor.

Duration – 15 to 30 mins

What is Thyroid/ Parathyroid Ultrasound?
A thyroid and parathyroid ultrasound is an imaging test to evaluate the thyroid gland and parathyroid glands. A thyroid ultrasound can help determine the size and shape of the thyroid gland, but it cannot determine the function of the thyroid. Ultrasound also may be used to evaluate the four parathyroid glands that lie within or next to the thyroid.
The thyroid gland produces a hormone called thyroxine that controls how fast the body converts food into energy (metabolism). Parathyroid hormone, or PTH, is produced by the parathyroid glands and regulates calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood.
During a thyroid and parathyroid ultrasound, a small handheld instrument called a transducer is passed back and forth over the neck to produce a picture of the thyroid gland and parathyroid glands.
Preparation – This procedure requires little to no special preparation. Leave jewelry at home and wear loose, comfortable clothing. You may be asked to wear a gown.
Duration – 20 to 30 minutes.

What is a Breast Ultrasound?
A breast ultrasound is a procedure that uses reflected sound waves to view and produce a picture of the internal structures of the breast. A breast ultrasound can show all areas of the breast, including the area closest to the chest wall, which is hard to study with a mammogram. Breast ultrasound does not use X-rays or other types of possibly harmful radiation.
A breast ultrasound is used to determine whether a breast lump is filled with fluid (a cyst) or a solid mass. An ultrasound generally does not replace the need for a mammogram; however, it is often used to further evaluate a problem seen on a mammogram.
For a breast ultrasound, a small handheld instrument called a transducer is passed back and forth over the breast. It sends out high-pitched sound waves (above the range of human hearing) that are reflected back to the transducer. A detector analyzes the sound waves and converts them into a picture that is displayed on a video monitor. The picture produced by ultrasound is called a sonogram, echogram, or ultrasound scan. Pictures or videos of the ultrasound images may be made for a permanent record.
Preparation – A breast ultrasound doesn’t require any special preparation. Because you’ll need to expose your breasts during the test, it’s best to wear a two-piece outfit to your appointment. Also, don’t apply any creams, lotions, or other cosmetics on the skin of your breasts. This can interfere with the test procedure.
Duration– 20 to 30 minutes.

What is an Abdominal Ultrasound?
An abdominal ultrasound uses reflected sound waves to produce a picture of the organs and other structures in the upper abdomen. Occasionally a specialized ultrasound is ordered for a detailed evaluation of a specific organ, such as a kidney ultrasound. An abdominal ultrasound can evaluate the:

• Abdominal aorta which is the large blood vessel (artery) that passes down the back of the chest and abdomen. The aorta supplies blood to the lower part of the body and the legs.
• Liver, which is a large dome-shaped organ that lies under the rib cage on the right side of the abdomen. The liver produces bile (a substance that helps digest fat), stores sugars, and breaks down many of the body’s waste products.
• Gallbladder, which is a saclike organ beneath the liver. The gallbladder stores bile. When food is eaten, the gallbladder contracts, sending bile into the intestine.
  • Spleen, which is the soft, round organ that helps fight infection and filters old red blood cells. The spleen is located to the left of the stomach, just behind the lower left ribs.
• Pancreas, which is the gland located in the upper abdomen that produces enzymes that help digest food. The digestive enzymes are then released into the intestines. The pancreas also releases insulin into the bloodstream; insulin helps the body utilize sugars for energy.
• Kidneys, which are the pair of bean-shaped organs located behind the upper abdominal cavity. The kidneys remove wastes from the blood and produce urine.

A pelvic ultrasound evaluates the structures and organs in the lower abdominal area (pelvis).
Preparation – You may be asked to wear a gown during the procedure. Preparations depend on the type of ultrasound you are having. For a study of the liver, gallbladder, spleen, and pancreas, you may be asked to eat a fat-free meal on the evening before the test and then to avoid eating for eight to 12 hours before the test. Ask your doctor if you can continue to drink water and take your medications as you normally would before an ultrasound. Your doctor will usually tell you to fast for 8 to 12 hours before your ultrasound. … There’s an exception to fasting if you’re having an ultrasound of your gallbladder, liver, pancreas, or spleen.
Duration – 20 to 30 minutes.

What is an Obstetrical Ultrasound?
Obstetrical ultrasound provides pictures of an embryo or fetus within a woman’s uterus, as well as the mother’s uterus and ovaries.
A Doppler ultrasound study may be part of an obstetrical ultrasound examination.
Doppler ultrasound, also called color Doppler ultrasonography, is a special ultrasound technique that allows the physician to see and evaluate blood flow through arteries and veins in the abdomen, arms, legs, neck and/or brain (in infants and children) or within various body organs such as the liver or kidneys.
During an obstetrical ultrasound the examiner may evaluate blood flow in the umbilical cord or may, in some cases, assess blood flow in the fetus or placenta.
Preparation – To ensure clear images, you will be asked to attend with a full bladder. This is achieved by emptying your bladder 2 hours before your appointment and then immediately drinking 600ml of water. Do not empty your bladder again before the procedure. You may eat normally and take any necessary medication.
Duration – 30 to 45 minutes.

What is a Pelvic Ultrasound?
A pelvic ultrasound uses sound waves to make a picture of the organs and structures in the lower belly (pelvis).
A pelvic ultrasound looks at:

• In women, the bladder, ovaries, uterus, cervix, and fallopian tubes.
• In men, the bladder, prostate gland, and seminal vesicles of a man.

Organs and structures that are solid and uniform, like the uterus, ovaries, or prostate gland, or are fluid-filled, like the bladder, show up clearly on a pelvic ultrasound. Bones or air-filled organs, like the intestines, do not show up well on an ultrasound and may prevent other organs from being seen clearly.
Pelvic ultrasound can be done three ways: transabdominal, transrectal, and transvaginal.

• Transabdominal ultrasound. A small handheld device called a transducer is passed back and forth over the lower belly. A transabdominal ultrasound is commonly done in women to look for large uterine fibroids or other problems.
• Transrectal ultrasound. The transducer is shaped to fit into the rectum. A transrectal ultrasound is the most common test to look at the male pelvic organs, such as the prostate and seminal vesicles.
• Transvaginal ultrasound. The transducer is shaped to fit into a woman’s vagina. A woman may have both transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasounds to look at the whole pelvic area. A transvaginal ultrasound is done to look for problems with fertility. In rare cases, a hysterosonogram is done to look at the inside of the uterus by filling the uterus with fluid during a transvaginal ultrasound.

In all three types of pelvic ultrasound, the transducer sends the reflected sound waves to a computer, which makes them into a picture that is shown on a video screen. Ultrasound pictures or videos may be saved as a permanent record.
Preparation – Most ultrasound exams require no preparation, with a few exceptions:

• For some ultrasound exams, such as of the gallbladder, your doctor may ask that you not eat or drink for up to 6 hours before the exam.
• Other ultrasound exams, such as of the pelvis, may require a full bladder, so your doctor might ask you to drink up to six glasses of water two hours before the exam and not urinate until the exam is completed.

When scheduling your ultrasound, ask your doctor for specific instructions for your exam.
Duration – 20 to 30 minutes.

What is A Scrotal ultrasound?
A Scrotal/ testicular ultrasound (sonogram) is a test that uses reflected sound waves to produce a picture of the testicles and scrotum. An ultrasound can show the long, tightly coiled tube that lies behind each testicle and collects sperm (epididymis) and the tube (vas deferens) that connects the testicles to the prostate gland. The ultrasound does not use X-rays or other types of radiation.
A small handheld instrument called a transducer is passed back and forth over the scrotum. The transducer sends the sound waves to the computer which converts them into a picture that is displayed on a video monitor. The picture produced by ultrasound is called a sonogram, echogram, or scan. Pictures or videos of the ultrasound images may be saved as a permanent record.
Preparation – The main aspect needed in order to prepare for a scrotal ultrasound is to ensure you are comfortable. Wear comfortable clothing that is loose. This will allow the ultrasound technician to have easier access to the area. In some cases, you will be asked to remove your clothing and to wear a gown during the procedure. By wearing loose clothing, you will be able to change into the gown with ease.
Duration – 20 to 30 minutes.

What is a Small Part Ultrasound?
This involves evaluation of a ‘small part’ of the body such as the neck, salivary glands, and lumps & bumps. The ultrasound images can help an ultrasound practitioner to evaluate these organs and look for signs of disease.
Preparation – The preparation depends on the small part to have the ultrasound.
Duration – 15 to 30 minutes.