Ultrasound and Sonography - San Diego

Sonogram imaging in San Diego

An ultrasound technician holds the device transducer in a gloved hand, representing the highly skilled radiology experts at Scripps.

Sonogram imaging in San Diego

Sometimes called sonography, ultrasound imaging uses sound waves to create pictures of organs, veins, arteries or a growing baby. During an ultrasound procedure, a microphone-like instrument called a transducer is scanned over the skin and sends sound waves into the body. The sound waves bounce off of tissue and reflect back to the transducer, where they are recorded and displayed as real-time images.

Sonograms are commonly used during pregnancy to monitor the growth and development of a baby. They are also used to evaluate the body’s circulatory system by helping to monitor blood flow to organs and tissues throughout the body. This can help doctors locate abnormalities, narrowed arteries, clotted veins or growths, such as tumors or cysts.

Types of ultrasounds

An ultrasound can be used for multiple types of imaging. Having an ultrasound is easy, painless and uses no ionizing radiation. During the exam, you’ll be asked to lie on a table while a clear gel is applied to the area being examined. This gel improves contact between the transducer and your skin. The sonographer will move the transducer back and forth over your skin to capture the images. Most procedures are completed in 30 minutes to an hour.

Obstetric ultrasound

A prenatal sonogram can be used to monitor blood flow in the umbilical cord, the fetus or placenta; evaluate the baby’s heart rate; and assess the overall health of the baby. During an obstetric ultrasound, the movement of the embryo or fetus and the heartbeat can be seen as an ongoing ultrasound movie.

Some ultrasound devices, called Doppler ultrasound, process the echoes produced by blood flowing through the fetal heart, blood vessels and umbilical cord and convert those echoes into audible sound, making it possible to hear the baby’s heartbeat.

Pelvic ultrasound

A pelvic ultrasound provides pictures of the structures in the lower belly or pelvis. Pelvic ultrasound imaging looks at the bladder, ovaries, uterus, cervix and Fallopian tubes. For men, the procedure is used to examine the bladder and prostate gland.

Transvaginal ultrasound

Using an internal probe to obtain pictures of the vaginal cavity, a transvaginal ultrasound is often performed to evaluate suspected cancer or abnormal growths in the female reproductive system. It can also be used in the early stages of pregnancy to monitor the health and growth of the fetus.

Breast ultrasound

A breast ultrasound can be used to take a closer look at the breast after an abnormal mammogram result.

Renal ultrasound

Also called renal sonogram, this procedure is used to assess the size, shape and location of the kidneys. A renal ultrasound can also help assess blood flow to the kidneys.

Thyroid ultrasound

The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the neck that helps control metabolism. An ultrasound can help identify swelling, growths or cysts that may have developed on the gland.

Vascular ultrasound

A vascular ultrasound is a procedure that provides pictures of the body’s veins and arteries so that the blood circulation in the arms and legs can be examined. These procedures include:

Arterial duplex, which uses ultrasound to produce pictures of the arteries in a patient’s arms or legs. This procedure is often used to test for peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
Carotid duplex, a procedure that uses ultrasound to look for plaque, blood clots or other blood flow problems in the carotid arteries. The carotid arteries are located in the neck, and they supply blood to the brain.
Venous duplex, a procedure that uses ultrasound to produce pictures of the veins in the arms or legs. Duplex ultrasound uses a combination of Doppler flow and conventional imaging information to allow physicians to see the structure of the blood vessels. Duplex ultrasound reveals how blood is flowing through the vessels and measures the speed of the blood flow. This exam can also be useful in estimating the diameter of a blood vessel, as well as the amount of obstruction in the blood vessel.

Ultrasound locations

Ultrasounds are available at the following Scripps Health locations in San Diego County. Prenatal ultrasounds may be available at your obstetrician’s office. Call your physician for more details.