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 The University Vermont Medical Center, 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 doctor find cysts, tumors, aneurysms and other health problems as quickly as possible.
Our expert interventional radiologists perform the latest advanced ultrasound-guided techniques for biopsies and other surgical procedures. At the UVM Medical Center, all ultrasound exams are read and interpreted by our specially trained ultrasound radiologists.
Highlights of our ultrasound imaging services include:
- Skilled ultrasound team: UVM Medical Center radiologists have subspecialty training in reading the many different types of ultrasound tests, 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 work to 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. They provide optimal imaging resolution, clarity and 3D imagery for both general and specialized ultrasound procedures.
- 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 treat 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:
- Blood clots
- Gallstones
- Scrotal pain
- Thyroid nodules
- Kidney stones
- Chronic liver disease
At the UVM Medical Center, our comprehensive services also feature screening ultrasounds for liver cancer and abdominal aortic aneurysms. We work closely with your doctor 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 doctor 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 doctor can begin planning treatment, if necessary.
