Pelvic Ultrasound: What To Think About

Content provided by Healthwise

What To Think About

• Ultrasound costs less than other tests that make pictures of organs and structures in the body, such as a computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). But in some cases, a CT scan or an MRI may also be needed to confirm a problem, such as cancer.
• With pelvic ultrasound, your health professional can usually tell the difference between a fluid-filled cyst, a solid tumor, or another type of lump. This is one of the main advantages of an ultrasound. An abnormal lump needs more testing. A follow-up ultrasound is often done in 6 to 8 weeks because many problems go away on their own within that time. Pelvic ultrasound cannot determine whether a lump is cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign). A biopsy may have to be done for this.
• Another method, called hysterosonography, may be done during transvaginal ultrasound to check lining of the uterus (endometrium). A hysterosonogram also can show whether a woman's fallopian tubes are open, which can be part of an infertility check. A hysterosonogram is done by filling the uterus with sterile saline during transvaginal ultrasound.
• Transvaginal ultrasound is used during fertility checks to help guide the removal of ovarian follicles for in vitro fertilization.
• Fetal ultrasound can be done to see your baby (fetus). For more information, see the medical test Fetal Ultrasound.
• If male problems, such as a big prostate, are found on ultrasound, more testing may be done. For more information, see the medical tests Digital Rectal Examination (DRE), Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA), and Prostate Biopsy.

Last updated:	June 22, 2007
Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Reviewed By:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine, Paul D. Traughber, MD - Radiology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC