WHAT IS AND ULTRASOUND IMAGING AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR
Ultrasound imaging is a diagnostic non invasive medical technique that uses sound waves to create a tridimensional image of internal body structures and organs.
Ultrasound imaging is painless and completely safe, there are no side effects and can be performed multiple times.
Ultrasound imaging, is not capable of studying bones or internal structures of the skull.
We can provide the following ultrasound imaging:
Cardiac Ultrasound
Musculoskeletal Ultrasound
Ultrasound Skin Imaging
Lymph Nodes Ultrasound
Head and Neck Imaging (Salivary glands, thyroid and parathyroid)
Abdominal Ultrasound (upper and lower abdomen). It is used to evaluate kidneys, liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, pancreas, spleen and abdominal aorta.
Pelvic ultrasound (bladder, uterus, ovarie and prostate gland)
Scrotal Ultrasound (scrotum and testicles)
Gynecological and Transrectal Ultrasonography
HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE TESTS
Utrasound Imaging does not require any specific preparation. Only in some cases the doctor may advise against eating or drinking for up to several hours before the scan or to arrive with a full bladder.
MEDICAL REPORT
The medical report will be ready at the end of the scan.
WHAT ARE ECHO-DOPPLER AND ECHO-COLOR-DOPPLER AND WHAT THEY ARE USED FOR
The use of Doppler technology is able to determine the speed and the direction of blood flow using the Doppler effect.
Blood flow is shown in red and blue. It’s red when approaching the probe and blue when moving in the opposite direction. This method allows to study blood flow and if there are any abnormalities, monitoring possible vascular stenosis, aneurysm, trombosis and venous insufficiency.
This test is pain free, non invasive and can be repeated without complications.
The following Echo Doppler and Echo-Color Doppler can be performed at the Helios Clinic:
Occlusions and arterial occlusions, mainly due to atherosclerosic plaques, or congenital heart disease or stenosis
Deep vein thrombosis (upper or lower limbs)
Varicose veins and venous insufficiency
HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE TESTS
Utrasound Imaging does not require any specific preparation, except for:
Abdominal aorta echo-color-doppler- the doctor will advise against eating or drinking for 8 hours before the scan. It will also be necessary to follow a diet for three days prior the appointment (the patient will be informed about the specifics of the diet when booking the test).
MEDICAL REPORT
The medical report will be ready at the end of the test.
YOUNGER PATIENTS:
We use the Graf method to classify hip dysplasia in neonates. The ultrasound can be performed between the age of 1 and 3 months.
This type of test is totally harmless and helps evaluate pre-clinical signs of hip dysplasia. This condition, if left untreated can cause dislocation of the femoral head and the acetabulum of the pelvis, resulting in leg-length asymmetry and subsequent severe limping. Early diagnosis of hip dysplasia will allow for less demanding treatments.
