What should you know about a basic abdominal ultrasound?

An abdominal ultrasound can examine the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, kidneys, spleen, major blood vessels, and parts of the pancreas. It may help identify gallstones, swelling, fluid, a cyst, or a change in the shape of an organ. It can also assess a lump or pain in a selected area, although some bowel gas and deep structures are harder to view. The scan creates images; it does not by itself explain every cause of abdominal pain. Your clinician combines the findings with your symptoms and examination.

Follow the imaging centre's instructions, which may include avoiding food for a period before the appointment and drinking water if a full bladder is requested. Tell the team about pregnancy, recent procedures, or difficulty lying flat. Wear comfortable clothing that allows access to your abdomen. During the examination, gel is placed on the skin and a handheld probe is moved across it. You may feel pressure over a tender area, but the procedure does not use radiation. Ask when the report will be sent to the clinician arranging it.

Do not wait for a routine scan if abdominal pain is sudden or severe, the abdomen becomes rigid or very swollen, or you have repeated vomiting, fainting, confusion, or difficulty breathing. Seek urgent assessment for yellowing of the skin or eyes with worsening pain or fever, or for blood in vomit or stool. A groin lump that becomes very painful, firm, or impossible to push back also needs urgent review because an Inguinal Hernia can become trapped. Kidney Stones, Gallstones, and Pancreatitis can cause different patterns of pain and require clinical assessment.

Ask which organs the referral is intended to assess, whether you need to fast, and when results will be discussed. Ask what other tests may be considered if the images do not explain your symptoms and which changes should prompt urgent care.