What is an ultrasound scan?
An ultrasound is a non-invasive medical imaging procedure that utilises sound waves to create images of the internal body structures. It’s also known as sonography. A radiographer or sonographer usually performs ultrasound scans. All radiographers and sonographers at Alder Hey are specially trained to work with children.
How is an Ultrasound scan carried out?
The patient will be scanned in a private room by a qualified medical professional, typically a doctor or sonographer. The scan involves them lying on a couch. The doctor or sonographer will then ask them to remove their clothing so that they can apply gel to their skin. This gel allows the doctor or sonographer to get the clearest picture during the scan.
They then move a blunt ‘probe’ gently across your skin to create images. The probe resembles a small paintbrush, but without the bristles. The patient’s clothes will be covered by paper towels, which can be used to wipe away the gel after the scan has finished. The scan will take approximately 25 minutes.
The doctor or sonographer will need to focus on reviewing the images during the scan but will be able to discuss them with you afterward. Ultrasounds are painless, but to obtain the clearest images, we need to apply gel to the skin, which may feel cold and sticky.
What types of Ultrasound scans are available?
We primarily use ultrasound to scan the stomach, but it can also be used to scan any part of the body. Some of the most common types of Ultrasound scans that we do can be found below.