Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can self refer to us for any scan without the need to see your own GP first.
You know the ones, where you go to a private clinic and your soon to be new arrival is computerised with a moving image projected onto a screen in front of your eyes. You walk away with your souvenir memory stick or cd (remember those) full of images and videos of your baby, with an increased level of excitement all geared up to the exciting due date.
3D and 4D baby scans are fantastic as they provide greater detail, such as allowing you to see the shape of your babies’ mouth and nose, spot the baby yawning or sticking their tongue out.Likewise, they are used to confirm gender and due dates, but equally they can also help diagnose and provide information about a known abnormality. This can help both parents and doctors to plan for the birth.
However, ultrasound scans usage extends far beyond just baby scans. other such usage is for scans if the liver, kidney’s, bladder, spleen, aorta and pancreas. More and more ultrasound is being used for MSK scans. This also known as musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging and is changing the diagnosis, and treatment of many conditions in different parts of the body.
Ultrasound gel is placed on the area of concern and the transducer (probe) is placed on to the gel. Sound waves are transmitted from the transducer (probe). The sonar technology used is the same as that used on ships. The images are produced when the sound waves interact with a structure in the body and is reflected back to a scanner. How the image appears on the screen depends upon the structure the sound waves hits, as each structure has a different pattern of reflection.
Sound waves are measured in frequencies, and different scanners produce sound waves of a specific frequency. The type of scanner, and therefore the type of frequency used depends upon the structure which is being imaged. As the majority of structures examined during a musculoskeletal examination are close to the skin surface (superficial) high frequency sound waves are used.
The scanner can be used either externally on the skin, or through the natural openings of the body, such as the vagina. With regards to abdominal and musculoskeletal examinations all scans are carried out with the probe being placed externally onto the skin.
The water-based gel described above is then spread over the skin, enabling the scan to define the structures as clearly as possible.
As the echoes are continuously produced, therefore the image on the screen is being constantly updated, the scan can show real-time movement.
The person operating the ultrasound scanner known as the sonographer can change the position of the probe in order to look at the structure being scanned from many different angles.
Depending on what is being examined the patient will be asked to lie down, sit down, stand up and/or perform a few movements to help detect or eliminate any pathology (disease or injury)
Ultrasound imaging is used to monitor unborn babies, detect heart problems, assess lumps within the body including lumps within the testicles and lumps in the breast. Likewise, it is also used to examine conditions affecting the organs in a woman’s pelvis – the uterus, cervix, vagina, Fallopian tubes and ovaries.
The following is a small sample of the most common conditions and symtpoms we are able to diagnose using ultrasound and is designed to help you in deciding what conditions may require an ultrasound referral.
Musculoskeletal
- Tendon tears, tendinitis, tendinopathy
- Muscle tears, strains and pulls throughout the body
- Bursitis
- Inflammation or fluid within the joints.
- Nerve entrapments such as carpal tunnel syndrome
- Hernias
Lumps/Bumps
- Lipoma’s
- Epidermal inclusion cysts
- Ganglion’s
- Bakers Cysts
Scrotal
- Lumps within the testicles and scrotum
- Hydroceles
- Varicoceles
- Epididymal cysts and epididymitis
- Torsion
- Orchitis
Upper abdomen
(Includes liver, pancreas spleen, kidneys, gallbladder etc)
- Elevated LFT’s
- Gallstones
- RUQ pain
- Epigastric pain
Renal Tract:
(Includes kidneys and bladder and prostate
- Renal stones
- Loin pain
- Incomplete bladder emptying
- Frequent micturition/nocturia
- Haematuria
- Hypertension
- Aorta
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm
Pelvis/Gynae Scan:
(Includes uterus, endometrium and ovaries)
- Pelvic Pain
- ?PCO
- Dysmenorrhoea
- Lost IUS threads
- ?Ovarian cyst
- ?Fibroids/endometrial polyp
Ultrasound can also be used to guide medical procedures, such as needle biopsies. This is used when it is necessary to extract sample cells from an abnormal area, so that it can be sent to the laboratory for testing.
We have a number of private ultrasound scan clinics and diagnostic centres throughout Greater Manchester, Liverpool and Cheshire. Likewise, we also offer a unique home scan service.
It’s not possible to feel the sound waves when they pass from the ultrasound probe and down to the underlying organs and tissues.
As an absolute minimum all have a minimum of Post Graduate Certificate in Ultrasound Imaging.
They will discuss the results of the scan then and there with you providing immediate verbal feedback. On occasions further tests, referrals and/or follow-up examinations may be necessary, and the reasons behind this will be explained when the results are discussed with you. For example, a follow-up examination may be required if there is a suspicious finding which warrants further investigation or if there’s a known abnormality that needs to be monitored over time.
Follow-up may also be necessary if the initial view was limited, and therefore additional images are required before a proper assessment can be made.
Within 24 hours of the examination you will be provided with a final written report. If you require, this report can also be sent to either your GP, healthcare provider or physiotherapist who will then contact you to make arrangements to discuss the results given in the report.
