BasicsUltrasound uses sound waves — not radiation — to make live pictures of the inside of the body. Here's how it works, what it's used for, what a scan is like, and why it's the safest imaging test there is.
Body partsAn abdominal ultrasound is a safe, radiation-free look at the liver, gallbladder, kidneys and more — often the first test for abdominal pain or suspected gallstones. Here's what it shows and why you fast beforehand.
Body partsAn arterial Doppler ultrasound checks how well blood is flowing through your arteries — often in the legs, to look for narrowing that affects circulation. Here's what it's for and what to expect.
Body partsA carotid Doppler is a vascular ultrasound of the neck arteries that supply the brain — used to check for narrowing that can raise stroke risk. Here's what it's for and what to expect.
ResultsDoppler ultrasound turns moving blood into colours, graphs and sound. Here's what it measures, what the colours and 'whooshing' mean, and how the results are used.
PreparingSome ultrasounds need fasting, some need a full bladder, and many need no preparation at all. Here's what's required for each common type so you're not caught out on the day.
SafetyA Doppler ultrasound is just a type of ultrasound that measures blood flow — sound waves, not radiation. Here's the short, reassuring answer, including in pregnancy.
SafetyUltrasound uses sound waves, not radiation, and has no known harmful effects — which is why it's the standard scan in pregnancy. Here's the reassuring detail and the sensible limits.
ScansA pelvic ultrasound checks the organs in the pelvis — the uterus and ovaries, or the bladder and prostate. Here's what it shows, the full-bladder prep, and the two ways it's done.
What to expectA transvaginal ultrasound uses a slim internal probe to get a close, clear view of the uterus, ovaries and early pregnancy. Here's why it's used, what it's like, and consent and comfort.
ResultsA sonographer performs your ultrasound, but a radiologist interprets it and reports to your doctor. Here's how results work in Australia, why the sonographer often can't tell you much, and how to get a copy.
Body partsVascular ultrasound uses sound waves and the Doppler technique to image blood vessels and measure blood flow — with no radiation. Here's what it's used for, from clots to narrowed arteries.
Body partsA venous Doppler ultrasound checks the veins — most often the leg veins for a blood clot (DVT). Here's what it's for, why the sonographer presses on your leg, and why it's safe.
UsesUltrasound does far more than pregnancy scans. Here's the full range — from the abdomen and thyroid to blood vessels, the heart and guiding procedures — all radiation-free.
Which scan?Ultrasound is the main, radiation-free test for gallstones and gallbladder pain. Here's what it shows, when a CT, MRCP or HIDA scan is added, and what to expect.
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