What is Ultrasound imaging? Where are services located?

An Ultrasound examination or sonography is a means of obtaining real time images of the internal organs utilizing inaudible, high-frequency sound waves.  Sound waves are directed into the body by the physician or technologist utilizing a small hand-held transducer.  Small changes in frequency and direction of the reflected sound waves are then detected and analyzed by a computer and displayed as a moving image. The examination usually is painless and there are no known harmful effects of ultrasound waves on the human body.  There is no use of potentially harmful ionizing radiation.  Many organs in the body are well imaged by ultrasound including the gall bladder, liver, spleen, pancreas, urinary bladder, aorta, scrotum/testicles, thyroid gland and breast tissue.

Since moving images are obtained, ultrasound is commonly used to direct a needle biopsy procedure, usually as means of diagnosing or excluding cancer. This is a minimally invasive procedure performed with local anesthesia, allowing the patient to avoid the discomfort and potential complications of an open surgical procedure. Breast lesions which are suspicious for cancer that are often detected first by mammography and subsequently characterized by ultrasound are commonly biopsied in this manner.

Ultrasound is performed at:

Bethesda North Hospital Radiology Department
10500 Montgomery Road
Cincinnati, OH   45242

Outpatient ultrasound examinations are scheduled from 8:20 am to 6:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday and 8:20 am to 1:10 p.m. on Saturdays.

Bethesda North Medicenter -  located next to the main hospital.
10550 Montgomery Road
Cincinnati, OH  45242

Outpatient ultrasound examinations are scheduled from 8 am to 3:40 p.m. Monday thru Friday.
    
Bethesda Arrow Springs in Lebanon
100 Arrow Springs Blvd.
Lebanon, OH   45036

Outpatient ultrasound examinations are scheduled from 1:00 pm to 3:50 p.m. Monday through Friday.
   
This exam requires a prescription from your doctor and must be scheduled.  The central scheduling number is (513)569-6777.

My doctor has ordered an Ultrasound examination. How should I prepare for it?

You should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing for your ultrasound examination. The study is usually painless.  There is no use of needles or injections unless you are undergoing a biopsy procedure, in which case plenty of local anesthesia will be used. In the case of an ultrasound guided biopsy procedure, you will also be asked to stop any aspirin or blood thinning medications a few days prior to the procedure.  Most diagnostic ultrasound studies require no preparation.

If you are having a breast ultrasound or ultrasound guided breast biopsy, any prior breast studies including mammograms, MRI and ultrasound (if available) should be sent prior to your appointment.

If you are having a pelvic ultrasound, you will be asked to drink at least 32 ounces of water a full hour prior to the study.  The purpose of this is to have a fluid-filled bladder through which sound waves can easily travel for optimal visualization of the pelvic organs. Do not empty your bladder until the procedure is finished of if you are instructed to do so by your technologist.

If you are having an abdominal ultrasound and you have a morning appointment, you should have no food or drink after midnight. If you have an afternoon appointment, you should have no food or drink eight hours prior to the exam.  You can take your medications with only a small amount of water, if necessary.

What should I expect during the procedure?

An ultrasound examination usually takes about 30 minutes or less to perform.  You may be asked to put on a gown and remove certain jewelry depending upon what type of study is to be performed. Your technologist will help position you on the exam table and will then apply a warm, clear gel over the area to be examined. This gel increases the conduction of sound waves between the transducer and the skin resulting in better images. The technologist will then apply gentle pressure on the body with the transducer and move it slowly back and forth over the area of interest while obtaining images.

A pelvic ultrasound is a two part procedure.  First, an overview of the pelvic organs is obtained with a transducer over the urinary bladder.  This requires a full bladder. The technologist will then have you empty your bladder. The second part of the exam requires the use of a small transducer which is inserted approximately two inches into the vagina for more detailed visualization of the uterus and ovaries.  This usually causes no or minimal discomfort to the patient and only takes a few minutes.  You will always have the option to decline this part of the exam.

What should I expect following the procedure?

There are no restrictions on diet or activity following an ultrasound examination.  If you have had an ultrasound guided biopsy, minor pain following the procedure is usually controlled by non prescription medications. 

A Northeast Radiology Associates board certified radiologist will interpret your study and issue a written report within 24 hours.  If anything is detected that requires immediate attention, the radiologist will contact your referring physician that same day.