What is an ultrasound?
An ultrasound exam, also known as a sonogram, uses high-frequency sound waves to produce pictures of the inside of the body. We use ultrasound to capture real-time images of the structures and movement of the body’s internal organs as well as blood flow through blood vessels. Ultrasound does not use radiation, making the exam safe, even during pregnancy.
Michigan Medicine’s Radiology Department offers ultrasound exams at several locations across metro Detroit and the Ann Arbor area.
What can I expect during my ultrasound?
An ultrasound is performed by applying a water-based gel to the skin and using a hand-held device to take the pictures. This device, also called a transducer, probe or camera, is slowly passed over the area to be examined. Several pictures are recorded for further study and interpretation by a Radiologist.
For an early pregnancy, the ultrasound exam may be performed internally. The ultrasound exam is used to measure the gestational age of the fetus, check the health of the pregnancy, and to look at the mother’s uterus and ovaries.
We offer many types of general adult and specialty pediatric ultrasound exams.
Specialty exams include:
- Breast
- Prostate
- Duplex and color-flow Doppler evaluation of blood vessels
- Guidance for biopsy
- Percutaneous (through the skin) aspiration and drainage
- Hernia evaluation
- Intraoperative
- Musculoskeletal (bone, joint and tissue)
- Liver tissue elastography
- First trimester obstetrical exams
- Hysterosonograms
- 3D reconstruction of the uterus