Abdominal Ultrasound
Sound Imaging provides abdominal ultrasounds in Anchorage and Soldotna, Alaska. This noninvasive exam uses sound waves to create detailed images of internal organs and major abdominal blood vessels without radiation or needles. Your healthcare provider may recommend an abdominal ultrasound to investigate abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, or abnormal blood results. Our sonographers capture images that help guide diagnosis and treatment. Contact Sound Imaging to schedule your appointment.
Understanding Your Abdominal Ultrasound
An abdominal ultrasound evaluates structures such as liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, and abdominal aorta. Depending on your providers order, your exam may assess several organs or focus on a specific area, such as liver, gallbladder, or kidneys.
An abdominal ultrasound can help identify gallstones, fatty liver changes, some kidney stones, cysts, masses, and an enlarged aorta. Your provider considers these findings along with your symptoms, medical history, and lab results to determine whether you need additional testing or treatment.
Depending on the reason for your exam, an abdominal ultrasound may be used to:
- Check the size and health of your liver
- Look for gallstones and gallbladder swelling
- Find kidney stones, cysts or blockages
- Examine your pancreas and spleen
- Check your abdominal aorta for an aneurysm
- Find the cause of stomach pain, bloating or nausea
- Follow up on abnormal blood test results
- Provide more imaging when your healthcare provider recommends it
Different Types of Abdominal Ultrasounds
Complete abdominal ultrasound
A complete abdominal ultrasound examines all the major organs in your belly: the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, kidneys and aorta. It gives your provider a full picture when symptoms are general or the cause of pain is unclear.
Limited Abdominal Ultrasound
A limited abdominal ultrasound focuses on one organ or area, such as the liver or gallbladder. It is used when your provider needs a closer look at a specific concern or wants to follow up on an earlier finding.
Liver Elastography
Liver elastography measures how stiff your liver is, which shows scarring (fibrosis) without a needle biopsy. It helps track fatty liver disease, hepatitis and other long-term liver conditions over time.
Appendix Ultrasound
An appendix ultrasound checks for appendicitis, a swollen or infected appendix. It uses no radiation, so it is often the first imaging test for children and pregnant patients with pain in the lower right side of the belly.
Hernia Ultrasound
An abdominal wall ultrasound checks for hernias and other lumps in the belly wall or groin. Your sonographer may ask you to cough or strain during the scan so a hernia can be seen as it moves.
What to Expect
Before your Appointment
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Your preparation for an abdominal ultrasound may vary depending on which organs we examine. For most abdominal ultrasounds, you will need to avoid eating or drinking for several hours beforehand so we can clearly see your gallbladder, liver, and pancreas. When you schedule your appointment, our staff at Sound Imaging will let you know about any special instructions, such as fasting before your exam or drinking water to arrive with a full bladder for a kidney or bladder ultrasound.
- Please wear comfortable clothing and bring any information or paperwork your provider requests.
When You Arrive
- Our team will check you in and guide you to the ultrasound room. Your sonographer will explain the exam and help you get comfortably positioned before the study begins.
During Your Ultrasound
- A registered sonographer will bring you to a private exam room and have you lie on your back on the exam table. They will apply warm gel on your abdomen and gently move a small handheld device, called a transducer, across your skin. The gel helps the sound waves send clear images of your organs to the screen.
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You may feel light pressure, especially if the area is tender, but an abdominal ultrasound should not hurt. Your sonographer may ask you to take a deep breath and hold it, or to roll onto your side, so organs like your liver, gallbladder, and kidneys can be seen more clearly. If the sonographer uses Doppler imaging to check blood flow, you may hear a whooshing sound. This is normal.
How Long Will It Take?
- A complete abdominal ultrasound usually takes 30 to 45 minutes. A limited abdominal ultrasound, which focuses on one organ such as the gallbladder or liver, usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
After Your Exam
- Once your ultrasound is complete, you can wipe off the gel and return to your normal activities unless your healthcare provider has given you different instructions.
- The radiologist will review the images from your exam, and the results will be sent to your referring healthcare provider, who will discuss the findings with you.
Getting Your Abdominal Ultrasound Results
- A radiologist will review your images and send a report to your healthcare provider. Your provider will contact you to explain your results and discuss next steps. Sonographers can’t share results during the exam, but they are happy to explain what they are doing.
FAQ
Why do I need to fast before an abdominal ultrasound?
Fasting keeps your gallbladder full and reduces gas in your bowel. This gives your sonographer a clearer view of your gallbladder, liver, pancreas and aorta.
Can I drink water before an abdominal ultrasound?
You may take medicine with a small sip of water. Otherwise, avoid drinking for 8 hours unless you are having a kidney or bladder ultrasound and have been told to drink water beforehand.
Does an abdominal ultrasound hurt?
No. Most patients feel only light pressure. Tell your sonographer if any area feels tender during the exam.
Is an abdominal ultrasound safe?
Yes. Ultrasound uses sound waves instead of radiation and is safe for adults, children and pregnant patients.
Insurance
Sound Imaging is in network with
Aetna
Blue Cross
Cigna
Meritain Health
Moda Health
TriWest
UnitedHealthcare
Alaska Medicaid including Denali KidCare
Medicare (coming soon)
Coverage and benefits vary by individual insurance plan. Questions about your coverage? Call (907) 531-2726.
No Surprise Act
Public Health Service (PHS) Act 2799B-3 and Section 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 149.430, describe medical consumer legal protections known as the No Surprise Act (NSA).
If you have an emergency medical condition and get emergency services from an out of network provider or facility, the most the provider or facility may bill you is your plan’s in network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments and coinsurance). You can’t be balance billed for these emergency services.
No Surprise Act Good Faith Estimates
Upon request, we are happy to provide registered patients with a good faith estimate based upon physician prescribed services, which will include expected charges for items or services as published in our current standard fee schedule. The estimate is based on information known at the time the estimate was created. The Good Faith Estimate does not include any unknown or unexpected costs that may arise during treatment. You could be charged more if complications or special circumstances occur.