Abdominal Sonogram
An abdominal sonogram is a diagnostic imaging test that helps physicians diagnose and treat potential maladies within the abdominal area. Unlike other ionizing-type wave imaging systems, sonograms capture images in real-time, allowing the technician and the patient to view the results immediately while the machine is imaging.
The Purpose of an Abdominal Sonogram
An abdominal sonogram can be used to diagnose conditions such as:
- Abnormal liver function
- Aortic aneurysm
- Gallstones or kidney stones
- Abdominal pain
- Enlarged abdominal organs
- A hernia
It can also be used to:
- Find the cause of abdominal pain
- Monitor tumors and cancers
- Assess the cause of abdominal pain
- Check for damage following an injury
- Check for the cause of a kidney infection
The Abdominal Sonogram Procedure
During an abdominal sonogram, a soft gel is spread across the abdomen, which will help the sound waves travel between the machine and the body. While the imaging itself is completely painless, the patient may experience discomfort if the area to be imaged was tender beforehand. No downtime is required after an abdominal sonogram; regular activities can be resumed immediately afterwards.
Additional Resources
- MedlinePlus
- National Institutes of Health
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
- U.S. National Library of Medicine
- WebMD
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