On this page:
Overview
Ultrasound is a safe and painless imaging test that uses high-frequency sound waves—not radiation—to create pictures of the inside of your body.
Ultrasound can help doctors examine many organs and tissues, including the abdomen, pelvis, blood vessels, thyroid, breasts and muscles. It’s also used to guide procedures like biopsies.
Most exams are done using a handheld device on the skin, though some may involve placing a small device inside the body. Your care team will explain what to expect and help you feel comfortable throughout the exam.
Your ultrasound will be performed by a registered diagnostic medical sonographer. In some cases, a radiologist may perform part or all of the exam. A student sonographer or radiology resident may also be involved, but always under supervision.
Limits of an ultrasound
Although ultrasound is a valuable tool, it has limitations. Sound doesn’t travel well through air or bone, so ultrasound isn’t effective at imaging parts of your body that have gas in them or are hidden by bone.
To view these areas, your doctor may order other imaging tests, such as CT, MRI scans or X-rays.
Safety information
Diagnostic ultrasound is a safe procedure that uses sound waves to create the image. There are no known risks.
Your ultrasound
Preparing for your ultrasound
Most ultrasound exams don’t need special preparation, but a few do:
Abdomen
Do not eat or drink for six hours before your exam. Food and gas can block the sound waves, and the gallbladder may not be visible if it contracts.
Pelvis
You will need a full bladder. Drink three to four large glasses of water one hour before your exam. A full bladder helps move bowel out of the way so pelvic organs can be seen clearly.
Abdomen and pelvis
Do not eat or drink for six hours before your ultrasound, except for three to four large glasses of water one hour before your exam to get a full bladder.
Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)
Use a fleet enema at least one hour before your exam.
Biopsies and MSK procedures
You may be asked to fast. You can take your regular medications with a small sip of water. Avoid smoking or chewing gum on the day of your exam.
Other areas
No preparation is needed for scans of the thyroid, breast, shoulder, scrotum, leg veins or carotid arteries.
If you have diabetes
Please call the booking office at 613-761-4854 and let them know so they can schedule a morning appointment. If you’re admitted to the hospital, tell your doctor about your upcoming ultrasound.
During your ultrasound
Your ultrasound will take place in a quiet, dimly lit room. You may be asked to remove jewelry, change into a gown and lie on an exam table. A trained sonographer will explain the procedure and may ask you a few medical questions before starting.
A warm gel will be applied to your skin to help the ultrasound device (called a transducer) make good contact with your skin. The sonographer will gently move the transducer over the area being examined. You may be asked to change positions, take deep breaths or briefly hold your breath. Some pressure may be applied, but this should not cause any pain.
Ultrasound is usually painless, though you might feel mild discomfort—especially if you need a full bladder for the test. The scan typically takes 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the area being studied. Images are captured in real time and reviewed by a radiologist after your exam.
After your ultrasound
Ultrasound exams are safe and have no known side effects. You may feel some temporary tenderness in the area that was scanned, especially if the sonographer needed to apply pressure to get clear images.
Once the exam is finished, you can return to your normal diet and daily activities right away.
Getting your results
After your ultrasound, a radiologist will review the images and send a report to your doctor. Your doctor will go over the results with you.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to speak with our staff.