Ultrasound / Sonography
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Overview
Ultrasound — also called sonography — uses sound waves to produce live images of the inside of the body. It is safe, painless, uses no radiation, and is widely used in pregnancy, abdominal problems, gynaecological conditions, and assessment of blood flow. Most ultrasounds are performed by qualified radiologists or sonographers, with the report shared with your treating doctor on the same campus.
What is this test?
A small handheld device called a probe (or transducer) sends sound waves into your body. The waves bounce back off internal structures and the machine builds a real-time image on screen. You may have heard the term “sonography” — it means the same thing. Because ultrasound is safe and gives live images, it is the standard for pregnancy scans and is also useful for many other situations where the body’s soft tissues need to be checked quickly and without radiation.
Why your doctor may order it
- Pregnancy — dating scan, anomaly scan, growth scan, foetal Doppler
- Abdominal — gallstones, liver disease, kidney problems, appendicitis
- Pelvic — ovarian cysts, fibroids, gynaecological conditions
- Thyroid and neck swellings
- Breast lumps — often used alongside or instead of mammography in younger women
- Scrotal and testicular conditions
- Doppler studies — to check blood flow in the kidneys, neck (carotid), legs, or pregnancy
- Guidance for biopsies and drainages
How long does it take?
A standard ultrasound takes 15 to 30 minutes. A detailed obstetric scan or a Doppler study may take 30 to 45 minutes. Total time at the hospital, including registration, is usually around an hour (does not include the waiting time which depends upon the patients lined up for ultrasound and time to fill up the bladder).
How to prepare
- For an upper abdominal ultrasound (liver, gallbladder, pancreas): fast for 6 to 8 hours before the test. Plain water is allowed.
- For a pelvic ultrasound (uterus, ovaries, bladder): drink 4 to 6 glasses of water 1 to 2 hours before the scan. Do not empty your bladder until after the scan — a full bladder makes the images clearer.
- For obstetric scans in early pregnancy: a moderately full bladder is helpful. In later pregnancy, it is not needed.
- Wear loose, two-piece clothing so that the area being scanned can be exposed easily.
- Bring your prescription, ID, previous scans, and any previous reports.
- For any antenatal scan, Xerox copy of ID proof of the patient and & husband is to be submitted (legal requirement).
What to expect during the test
You lie on a couch, usually on your back. The sonographer applies a clear gel to your skin — this helps the sound waves travel — and moves the probe over the area of interest. You may be asked to take a deep breath and hold it, or to change position. For some scans, the probe is inserted into a body cavity — vaginal probe for some gynaecological scans, or rectal probe for prostate. These are explained and
consented for in advance. Ultrasound is painless. There may be some pressure on a tender area (gallstones, for example, can be uncomfortable when the probe is pressed against the gallbladder).
After the test
- You can immediately return to normal activity. You may want to wipe the gel off — we provide tissues/ napkins.
- Eat and drink normally if you were fasting.
- The report is usually ready within 24 hours, sometimes within an hour or two.
- Share the report with your treating doctor, who will explain the findings and discuss any next steps.
Do's and Don'ts
- Follow the fasting or bladder preparation for your specific scan.
- Wear loose clothing that allows access to the area being scanned.
- Bring any previous scans for comparison.
- Tell the sonographer if you are pregnant — even at the start of an unrelated scan, proper ID proof documents/ forms need to be submitted for pregnant patients (legal requirement)
- Tell the sonographer if any spot feels tender — it can be a useful clue.
- Don't eat before an upper abdomen scan — gallstones and other findings may be missed if the gallbladder is contracted.
- Don't empty your bladder right before a pelvic scan if you've been told to drink water.
- Don't apply lotion or oil to the area before the scan.
- Don't be alarmed if the sonographer is silent during the scan — they are concentrating, not hiding bad news.
- Don't assume one ultrasound is enough — your doctor may need a repeat scan to follow change over time or in case of pregnant, if the position of the foetus is not adequate/ correct for scan.
Understanding your results
An ultrasound report describes the size, shape, and appearance of the organ being scanned. “Normal study” means nothing significant was found. Specific findings — a cyst, a stone, a nodule — will be described and measured. Ultrasound is operator-dependent (different operators can see slightly different things) and limited by body habitus and bowel gas in some patients. Your doctor will interpret the report in context and decide whether further tests are needed.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Decades of use have shown that ultrasound is safe for the mother and the baby. It is the standard imaging in pregnancy worldwide.
A full bladder pushes loops of bowel out of the way and acts as a clear window for the sound waves, making the uterus and ovaries and prostate much easier to see.
In India, the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act prohibits revealing the sex of a foetus. Our team will not disclose this information under any circumstances in any way/ manner.
No. CT scan is much shorter and the machine is much more open, and quieter than MRI. Most people who find MRI difficult have no problem with a CT.
Sometimes a finding needs to be checked at a later date to see if it has changed — for example, a small cyst, or to confirm a normal pregnancy is progressing. A repeat scan does not automatically mean something is wrong.
Yes. Like every test, ultrasound has limits — particularly for deep structures, bone, and lung. If symptoms continue despite a normal ultrasound, your doctor may recommend further tests.