We offer advanced ultrasound technology and a compassionate team of certified sonographers. We have two ultrasound rooms in the Women’s Center, allowing for greater privacy when performing breast procedures.
Visit our Ultrasound page for procedure information.
A clear gel is applied to the area of the body being studied to help the transducer make secure contact with the body and eliminate air pockets between the transducer and the skin. The sonographer (ultrasound technologist) then presses the transducer firmly against the skin and sweeps it back and forth over the area of interest.
When the examination is complete, the patient may be asked to dress and wait while the ultrasound images are reviewed. However, the sonographer is often able to review the ultrasound images in real-time as they are acquired and the patient can be released immediately.
Transvaginal ultrasound. The transducer is inserted into a woman's vagina to view the uterus and ovaries.
PIC offers the following ultrasound procedures, both general and doppler:
Abdominal (includes gall bladder, liver, pancreas, spleen, kidney, and aorta)
Breast cyst aspiration - Download Instructional PDF, below.
Ultrasound-guided breast biopsy - Download Instructional PDF, below.
Infant hips/spine/neonatal
Pelvic with transvaginal
Thyroid biopsy/fine needle aspiration - Download Instructional PDF, below.
Mesenteric, porta-hepatic, and renal arterial
Venous/arterial doppler of the arms and legs
Liver transplant, renal transplant
Ankle Brachial Index (ABIs) - arterial legs
Vein mapping of the arms and legs
While many ultrasound procedures require no preparation for our patients, some do. You should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing for your ultrasound exam. You will need to remove all clothing and jewelry in the area to be examined.
Each preparation helps the technologist get the best possible images for review.
No prep is required for some procedures
Venous doppler arms/legs
Arterial doppler of the arms/legs
Food and water prep required for these procedures
No eating or drinking (including water) after midnight the evening before these tests; includes no smoking or chewing gum.
Mesenteric doppler
Porta-hepatic doppler
Water prep is required for these exams
Pelvis or OB ultrasound
One and one-half hours before the exam, start drinking 32 ounces of water (about four cups). Complete drinking water about one hour prior to the scheduled exam. Do not urinate until after the test.
Drink plenty of clear liquids the day before the exam. The day of the exam, drink 24 ounces (about three cups) of water. Complete drinking water about 30 minutes prior to the scheduled exam. Do not urinate until after the test.
Results of your ultrasound
Images from the ultrasound exam are reviewed and interpreted by a PIC radiologist, who will dictate a report, which is transcribed and sent to the healthcare provider who ordered the exam. This is usually accomplished within three days after the exam.
The sonographer is not able to render a diagnosis based on what they see in the exam room. Patients should contact their healthcare provider for the results of their ultrasound exam.
A CD of the exam can be burned and kept at the front desk for pickup by the patient or ordering clinician. Please contact the File Room at 907-212-3144 for more information.