Ultrasound scan

What is an Ultrasound Scan & how do they work?

An ultrasound scan, sometimes called a sonogram, is a procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of part of the inside of the body.

An ultrasound scan can be used to monitor an unborn baby, diagnose a condition, or guide a surgeon during certain procedures.

A small device called an ultrasound probe is used, which gives off high-frequency sound waves.

You can’t hear these sound waves, but when they bounce off different parts of the body, they create “echoes” that are picked up by the probe and turned into a moving image. This image is displayed on a monitor while the scan is carried out.

Ultrasound types & uses:

  • External ultrasound scan 
    • An external ultrasound scan is most often used to examine the heart, organs in the tummy and pelvis, muscles and joints and other organs and tissues that can assessed through the skin.
  • Internal ultrasound scan
    • An internal examination allows a doctor to look more closely inside the body at organs such as the prostate gland, ovaries or womb.

Preparing for an ultrasound scan

Before having some types of ultrasound scan, you may be asked to follow certain instructions to help improve the quality of the images produced.

For example, you may be advised to:

  • drink water and not go to the toilet until after the scan – this may be needed before a scan of your unborn baby or your pelvic area
  • avoid eating or drinking for several hours before the scan – this may be needed before a scan of your digestive system, including the liver and gallbladder

Depending on the area of your body being examined, the hospital may ask you to remove some clothing and wear a hospital gown.

What happens during an Ultrasound?

Most ultrasound scans last between 15 and 45 minutes. They usually take place in a hospital radiology department and are performed either by a doctor (radiologist) or a sonographer.

They can also be carried out in community locations such as GP practices, and may be performed by other healthcare professionals, such as midwives or physiotherapists who have been specially trained in ultrasound.

There are different kinds of ultrasound scans, depending on which part of the body is being scanned and why.

The 3 main types are:

  • external ultrasound scan – the probe is moved over the skin
  • internal ultrasound scan – the probe is inserted into the body
  • endoscopic ultrasound scan – the probe is attached to a long, thin, flexible tube (an endoscope) and passed further into the body – This type of scan is not undertaken at Greater Lancashire Hospital

Pricing

Body partPrice
Abdominal aorta70
Upper abdominal scan105
Full abdominal scan150
Female pelvic scan135
Female pelvic including TV scan250
Testes and Scrotal scan100
KUB +/- prostate110
Carotid scan250
Wrist and hand scan175
Knee scan one/two120/180
Ankle and Foot scan175
Hip scan one/two175/275
Shoulder scan one/two175/275
MSK soft tissue150
Soft tissue + FNAC275
US groin scan (hernia)200
US neck/Thyroid scan150
Thyroid + FNAC275
Breast scanone/two125/175
Breast + biopsy300
DVTONE/TWO200/350
Lower limbs arterial duplex250/400
Upper limb arterial duplex250/400
US varicose veins250/400
Vein mapping200
MSK injections£150/- per injection 

Get in contact to book your appointment

UK

5A Millennium City Office Park

Barnfield Way, Ribbleton,

Preston,

PR2 5DB

Phone: +44 1772 700629

Mobile: +44 7455 241374

Contact Form Demo (#4)

UK

5A Millennium City Office Park

Barnfield Way, Ribbleton,

Preston,

PR2 5DB

Phone: +44 1772 700629

Mobile: +44 7455 241374

Contact Form Demo (#4)