Thousands of ultrasound examinations are performed in the UK every day. After ordinary x-rays it is the most commonly performed radiology investigation in most UK radiology departments. It is painless and, as it does not involve x-rays, it is perfectly suited for pregnancy, young adults and children. Ultrasound of the upper abdomen examines organs including the liver, spleen, gall bladder, pancreas and kidneys. These scans are used for symptoms such as upper abdominal pain, abnormal liver function tests and urinary tract problems including infection and blood in the urine. The scan is performed through the skin and it is usually possible to give the results straight away. Your radiologist will be there to talk to you as he or she performs the procedure. Ultrasound is excellent for identifying liver, gallbladder, pancreatic and kidney problems. it is also the quickest test to identify an aortic aneurysm. Patients attending for an abdominal ultrasound will often be asked to fast before the test so that structures such as the gallbladder can be easily seen. The image below shows a gallstone in a patient with recurrent pain after eating. 
The pelvis is another area commonly scanned with ultrasound. This is usually done through the front of the abdomen and you will be asked to fill your bladder before the scan. Most information can be gained with ultrasound alone though sometimes further scanning with MRI or CT is needed to clarify the findings. Your radiologist will advise you if this is necessary at the time. In some cases in women, an internal pelvic scan scan is required where a thin ultrasound probe is gently inserted into the vagina. This is common, no worse than an internal examination and takes a few minutes only. Certain pelvic problems in women are best assessed with scans of this type. Your gynaecologist or radiologist will be able to advise you if this is necessary. The image below represents a large ovarian mass. 
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