Abdominal ultrasound
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Abdominal ultrasound
An abdominal ultrasound uses reflected sound waves to produce a picture of the organs and other structures in the upper abdomen. Sometimes a special ultrasound is done for a closer look at a specific organ, such as a kidney ultrasound.
An ultrasound does not use X-rays or other types of radiation. During an abdominal ultrasound, a small handheld unit called a transducer is gently moved over the belly. A computer converts the sound waves into a picture shown on a TV screen.
An abdominal ultrasound may help find problems of the liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, abdominal aorta, and kidneys.
Credits
| Author | Jan Nissl, RN, BS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Paul D. Traughber, MD - Radiology |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Kenneth B. Sutherland, CD, BSc, MD, FRCPC - Diagnostic Radiology |
| Last Updated | January 17, 2007 |
| Last updated: | January 17, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS |
| Reviewed By: | Paul D. Traughber, MD - Radiology, Kenneth B. Sutherland, CD, BSc, MD, FRCPC - Diagnostic Radiology |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer |
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