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Ultrasound

Ultrasound Imaging at UVM Health

A common diagnostic tool, ultrasound (also called sonography or ultrasonography) uses high-frequency sound waves to capture real-time images of internal organs, soft tissues and blood flow in your arteries. Ultrasound provides a safe and painless way to see what’s going on inside your body without the use of radiation.

At University Vermont Health, our leading-edge ultrasound imaging services feature a specially trained team of ultrasound technologists (sonographers) and expert radiologists experienced in performing and interpreting exams. Delivering timely diagnostic ultrasound results, we help your provider find cysts, tumors, aneurysms and other health problems as quickly as possible.

A diagnostic ultrasound is performed on the stomach of a patient.

Why Choose UVM Health?

At UVM Health, all ultrasound exams are read and interpreted by our specially trained ultrasound radiologists.

Highlights of our ultrasound imaging services include:

  • Skilled ultrasound team: Our radiologists have subspecialty training ensuring deep familiarity with specific areas of interest for your exam. With your comfort a top priority, our professionally certified ultrasound technologists skillfully and quickly capture high-quality images for the best assessment of your medical condition.
  • State-of-the-art technology: We offer the latest ultrasound machines and equipment for diagnostic testing and interventional ultrasound-guided procedures for optimal imaging resolution, clarity and 3D imagery.
  • Full range of services: Our comprehensive ultrasound services cover all the major organs of the abdominal cavity, neck and pelvis as well as other internal body structures. Offering a wide array of ultrasound exams — including advanced contrast-enhanced tests — allows us to meet all of your diagnostic screening and health-monitoring needs.

Conditions We Diagnose with Ultrasound

Safe and noninvasive, ultrasound technology excels at capturing images of soft tissue diseases that don’t show up well on X-rays, such as tumors and cysts. We routinely perform ultrasound to detect a wide variety of health issues, such as:

At UVM Health, our comprehensive services also feature screening ultrasounds for liver cancer and abdominal aortic aneurysms. We work closely with your provider to detect or confirm the presence of these and other serious medical conditions.

What to Expect From an Ultrasound

Most ultrasound exams don’t require special preparation, but some do. Be sure to follow any special instructions you receive from our experienced ultrasound team. For example, you may need to have a full bladder before your test to help us capture clearer images of certain pelvic organs. For some tests, such as abdominal ultrasound, you may be asked to avoid eating or drinking before your appointment.

During your ultrasound test, you will lie on an examination table. One of our specially trained ultrasound technologists (also known as a sonographer) will apply a gel to your skin, over the area to be examined. The gel maximizes contact between the ultrasound wand and your skin to ensure the ultrasound machine produces the highest quality images.

The sonographer will press a hand-held device (transducer) against your skin. The transducer sends and receives the sound waves from the ultrasound machine to create images of the inside of your body. Depending on the type of exam, you may have to lie still, change positions, hold your breath or perform simple breathing exercises.

Another type of test, transvaginal ultrasound can provide better images than traditional ultrasound or other diagnostic methods. For these exams, the ultrasound technologist will gently insert a smaller, specially designed transducer into your vagina.

Benefits of Ultrasound

Ultrasound provides detailed anatomic information essential for the accurate diagnosis of many diseases and abnormalities. Convenient, safe and painless, ultrasound is often used as a first-line imaging method. Your provider may order an ultrasound to investigate any aches, pains or concerning symptoms like bleeding that you may be experiencing.

Our dedicated ultrasound services ensure you receive rapid results, so you can have peace of mind and your provider can begin planning treatment, if necessary.

Requesting Your Images

To request your images, please submit a request using MyChart, your patient portal. You may also call the Imaging Management Center (IMC) at 802-847-2354 and select option #3 when prompted.

When requesting your images, please specify which imaging exam(s) you would like, including date(s). The images can be emailed directly to you or a member of your health care team.


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University of Vermont Medical Center

111 Colchester Ave
Burlington, VT 05401

802-847-0000

Golisano Children's Hospital

111 Colchester Ave
Burlington, VT 05401

802-847-0000

Central Vermont Medical Center

130 Fisher Road
Berlin, VT 05602

802-371-4100

Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital

75 Beekman Street
Plattsburgh, NY 12901

518-561-2000

Elizabethtown Community Hospital

75 Park Street
Elizabethtown, NY 12932

518-873-6377

Alice Hyde Medical Center

133 Park Street
Malone, NY 12953

518-483-3000

Porter Medical Center

115 Porter Drive
Middlebury, VT 05753

802-388-4701

Home Health & Hospice

1110 Prim Road
Colchester, VT 05446

802-658-1900

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