Ultrasound

Lake Imaging offers ultrasound services at numerous locations. Please refer to the specific ultrasound procedure you require for further information.

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WHAT IS ULTRASOUND
Ultrasound imaging (also called ultrasound scanning or sonography) is a non-invasive medical examination that uses high frequency sound waves to produce images of the inside of the body. This enables doctors to diagnose and treat a wide range of medical conditions.

Ultrasound is a simple and non-invasive procedure that is used extensively during pregnancy, and to assess many organs and superficial parts, as well as the heart and blood vessels. Areas of pain, swelling or infection can be directly assessed in real time. Because ultrasound is readily available and cost-effective, it is often the first diagnostic test ordered for abdominal, pelvic and musculoskeletal pain. At Lake Imaging, ultrasound examinations are carried out by a sonographer (a technologist trained in ultrasound imaging) who is accredited by the Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry (ASAR). All examinations are then interpreted by a radiologist (a medical doctor specializing in the interpretation of medical images).
BEFORE AN ULTRASOUND
Read all the instructions given to you by your doctor or provided by us, as you may be required to fast depending on the type of imaging. Wear clothing that will provide easy access to the area requiring imaging. Please bring any previous, relevant examinations for comparison. If you have diabetes, or you are on any medication, please contact us to check special preparation instructions, and our staff will advise of any specific preparation. Please visit the links below for further information.
DURING AN ULTRASOUND
The Sonographer will explain the procedure you are having and answer any questions you have. You will generally be asked to lie down on a padded bed exposing the area for examination. A clear, water based gel will be applied to the skin over the area to be scanned to improve the transmission of sound waves between the body and the ultrasound transducer. To get the best possible images the sonographer may ask you to hold your breath or move your position so the best images can be obtained.

On occasion, a radiologist may need to speak with you and perform some ultrasound scanning as well, in order to clarify what has been shown in the images and ensure the question asked by your referring doctor is answered accurately.
AFTER AN ULTRASOUND
One of our radiologists will interpret the ultrasound and provide your referring doctor with a comprehensive report about the findings. It is very important you book a timely follow-up appointment with your referring doctor or health care provider to discuss your results.

If the results are needed urgently, or you have an appointment immediately after your scan with your referring doctor or health care provider, Lake Imaging will arrange to have your results available immediately. Otherwise your referring doctor or health care provider will receive your report within 48 hours of your examination.
PATIENT SAFETY
Ultrasound is a safe examination which provides excellent imaging without any known risks. There are no known side effects from having a diagnostic ultrasound scan performed for medical imaging purposes. Your Sonographer will apply techniques to ensure that your scan is a safe procedure. For this reason, your scan should only be performed by an accredited sonographer, or trained medical practitioner, and a scan should only be performed when clinically indicated.

Not all causes of pain show on ultrasound, so further testing may be required. Ultrasound does not involve ionising radiation, making it ideal for pregnant women, their babies, and children. The sonographer will set the equipment to the lowest intensity necessary to achieve high quality images. The results of your scan will be sent directly to your referring Doctor, and it is very important you book a timely follow-up appointment to discuss your results.
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Find out more about the services we offer in this area.

Please note, not all services are listed below, and not all services are available at every site.

Abdominal

Ultrasound of the abdomen is an effective way of assessing a number of organs in the abdomen. High-resolution images of the liver, spleen, kidneys, gall bladder, and pancreas are attainable.

Ultrasound is commonly the initial imaging investigation requested for abdominal pain and other abdominal symptoms. Not all causes of abdominal pain and symptoms are identifiable on ultrasound and in some cases further investigations may be necessary.

Renal

A renal ultrasound is commonly the initial imaging investigation requested for renal tract symptoms, and involved imaging of the kidneys, bladder and surrounding soft tissues. Not all causes of renal tract pain and symptoms are identifiable on ultrasound and further investigations may be requested.

Please ensure you empty your bladder 2 hours before your appointment time and then drink 4-5 glasses of water (not coffee or tea). Please finish drinking your water at least one hour before your appointment and hold this fluid until your appointment.
Do NOT empty your bladder until after the examination.

Testicular

Thyroid

Thyroid ultrasound is effective in providing highly detailed images of the thyroid and is often used to investigate thyroid symptoms.

Your doctor may refer you for ultrasound examinations of the thyroid for a number of reasons including:

To determine if a lump in the neck is arising from the thyroid or an adjacent structure
To analyse the appearance of nodules and determine if they are the more common benign nodule or if the nodule has features that require a biopsy
To look for additional nodules in patients with one or more nodules felt on physical exam
To see if a thyroid nodule has substantially grown over time

There is no preparation required for a thyroid ultrasound.

Musculoskeletal

Musculoskeletal ultrasound is commonly used to image soft tissues of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, hip, knee, ankle and foot. It can provide high resolution images of muscles, tendons and ligaments throughout the body.

Ultrasound can be used to investigate acute musculoskeletal injuries as well as causes of chronic musculoskeletal pain.

There is no preparation required for any area imaged with musculoskeletal ultrasound.

Vascular

Vascular ultrasound is a specialist ultrasound application, which examines the body’s circulatory system (arteries and veins) for abnormalities such as the build-up of plaque on arterial walls, or the presence of thrombus or clot within a vein. In addition, Doppler can be used to obtain information about the blood flow which is extremely important in diagnosing most vascular conditions.

Vascular ultrasound may be used to assess blood flow to the brain and the body’s organs and extremities. It is used to assess varicose veins, vascular malformations, aneurysms or unusual anatomy. It helps the vascular surgeon or physician to plan treatments and is of significant use in assessing the outcome of interventional procedures.

Soft tissue

Pelvic (Female)

Female pelvic ultrasound is commonly the initial imaging investigation for pelvic symptoms such as pain, bloating, irregular or heavy bleeding, and absence of menstruation. It involves assessment of the female pelvic organs including the uterus and ovaries.

Not all causes of pelvic symptoms are identifiable on ultrasound and further investigation may be required.

In preparation, please empty your bladder 2 hours before your appointment time and then drink 4-5 glasses of water (not coffee or tea). Please finish drinking your water one (1) hour prior to your appointment and hold this fluid until your appointment. Do NOT empty your bladder until after your examination.

ARFI or Shearwave

Ultrasound Elastography (ARFI or Shearwave)

Ultrasound Elastography (also known as ARFI or Shearwave) is quickly becoming the new gold standard for fast and accurate diagnosis and monitoring of chronic liver disease. It is used to stage the severity of liver disease by measuring the ‘hardness’ of the liver tissues and fibres, which can be an indication of liver fibrosis. This is determined by measuring the time a vibration wave, or shear wave, takes to travel to a particular depth inside the liver.

Accurate diagnosis and staging of liver fibrosis is essential for the prognosis and management of chronic liver disease. ARFI provides a non-invasive alternative to painful liver biopsy.

Instead of manual compression, ARFI technology allows the tissue to be compressed by an acoustic ultrasound beam. One advantage of this approach is that the acoustic beam is focused at the region of interest. This maximizes the local displacement of tissue compared to at the skin surface with uncontrollable stress being applied in deeper tissues.

Using ARFI to assess liver disease

Liver function tests and transient ARFI are non-invasive, sensitive, and accurate tools for the assessment of liver fibrosis and for the discrimination between cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic liver.

ARFI imaging offers the possibility of performing a quantitative measurement of the elasticity of the hepatic parenchyma during conventional ultrasound evaluations, without requiring additional transducers or other equipment.

Ultrasound elastography or ARFI is now replacing liver biopsy as the gold standard in detection and monitoring liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatitis associated issues.

You will be required to fast for 4 hours prior to your appointment.

Make an appointment online or call our dedicated bookings line

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Ultrasound

Services

WHAT IS ULTRASOUND

BEFORE AN ULTRASOUND

DURING AN ULTRASOUND

AFTER AN ULTRASOUND

PATIENT SAFETY

Find out more about the services we offer in this area.

Please note, not all services are listed below, and not all services are available at every site.

Abdominal

Renal

Testicular

Thyroid

Musculoskeletal

Vascular

Soft tissue

Pelvic (Female)

ARFI or Shearwave

Make an appointment online or call our dedicated bookings line

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