Ultrasound

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Bulk billed for most Medicare eligible services

Bulk Billed Ultrasound*

Musculoskeletal, abdominal, joint injections, obstetric* scans and many more available at our local practices.

 

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What Is An Ultrasound?

Ultrasound uses sound waves to produce images. The sound waves are transmitted into your body from a small handpiece called an ultrasound probe. Some of these waves are reflected by different structures within your body and processed by the ultrasound machine to form pictures. These pictures are shown on a computer monitor and recorded.

Ultrasound has been around for about 60 years now and studies have shown that is a safe technique with no harmful side effects.

The following link is an excellent resource provided by The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists® for both Patients and Clinicians about radiology examinations. Please take the time to read this before your examination:

Ultrasound

Ultrasound Preparation Requirements

Depending on the type of examination you are having, there may be some preparation involved. For specific preparation requirements, click on the type of scan you are booked in for:

Obstetric ultrasound is a widely used imaging tool used to assess the health and well being of you and your baby.

These scans can be performed at anytime during your pregnancy however, the most common scans are:

  • Early Pregnancy (dating scan) – 6 to 9 weeks
  • Nuchal Translucency Scan – 12-13 weeks
  • Morphology Scan – 18 to 21 Weeks
  • Growth Studies – anytime after the 20 week scan.

We know this is usually an exciting time for expectant parents and other family members and we feel privileged to be a part of this special time. Please remember though, you and your baby come first and these scans are very important and can be difficult to perform. Sometimes the Sonographer will ask for limited people in the room until the diagnostic scan is performed. It is at this time that the Sonographer will invite others into the room to enjoy the view of your new bundle.

Preparation:

2 hours before your examination time, empty your bladder. Over the next hour, drink 1 Litre of water. Then, do not empty your bladder until the sonographer performing your examination asks you to.

It is important you have a full bladder for the examination. You should wear a loose-fitting, two-piece outfit for the examination. You may eat as normal.

Exam Time:

Depending on the staging of the pregnancy, the duration of obstetric ultrasound scans may vary from 20 minutes to 1 hour.

Further Information:

The following link is an excellent resource provided by The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists® for both Patients and Clinicians about radiology examinations. Please take the time to have a read of this before your examination.

obstetrics button

An abdominal ultrasound scan obtains pictures of organs and other structures in the upper abdomen. It is used primarily to assess organs such as the pancreas, liver, the biliary system, spleen, kidneys and abdominal aorta.

 

Preparation:

Do not eat or drink for 6 hours prior to the examination. Any prescribed medication may be taken with plain water. If you are a Diabetic please call the practice for instructions on how to prepare for your exam. Wearing loose fitting, two-piece clothing would be helpful.

Exam Time: Approximately 20-30 minutes

abdominal ultrasound

Ultrasound scanning is used to help diagnose breast abnormalities detected by yourself or a doctor during a physical exam (such as a painful areas, lumps or nipple discharge) or it may be part of a routine breast screen for some individuals.

Preparation:

There is no preparation required for this examination however it is extremely important to bring any previous breast imaging with you to your appointment.

Exam Time:

Approximately 20 – 30 minutes.

Further Information:

You will need to remove all of your clothing from the waist up, including your bra where applicable. A light cloth may be used to cover your breast that is not immediately being imaged.

breast button

DVT is the abbreviation for Deep Vein Thrombosis. Is it a condition that affects the blood vessels of the deep veins of the arms, legs and body.

Preparation:


No preparation is necessary for these examinations, however loose fitting two-piece apparel would be preferred.

Exam Time:


Each DVT study will last between 15 to 30 mins, depending on the complexities of the study and how many areas need to be assessed.

Further Information:


Whilst we have a skilled team of professionals, some aspects of vascular ultrasound are highly specialised. If we are unable to assist you with the type of vascular ultrasound you require, we will direct you to the most appropriate centre that will assist you.

DVT button

Musculoskeletal (MSK) Ultrasound is a very effective and popular examination technique to assess injuries to joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments of the body.

Virtually any area can be imaged to varying degrees of success. The most appealing aspects of using ultrasound to assess muscles and joints is the high image resolution and the ability to observe movements in the joints whilst the scan is being performed (dynamic assessment).

Before your scan, the sonographer will take a brief history of the injury and discuss any further relevant issues pertaining to the examination. You may be asked to perform some dynamic movements of the area being assessed.

The reporting Radiologist will be present for some of the examination to review your study. At all times please inform the sonographer about your comfort and pain levels, as knowing this will make the sonographer aware of the limits of you capabilities and may also help with your diagnosis.

Preparation:

No specific preparation is required for these types of examinations; however, wearing appropriate clothing to assist in accessing the area being examined would be helpful.

Exam Time:

MSK imaging times can vary between 5 mins to 20 minutes, depending on the technicality of the area being examined.,

musculoskeletal button

The NT scan is a highly specialized study performed between 11-13 weeks of pregnancy. It is a study that provides a risk calculation for a number of chromosomal disorders that may affect the pregnancy such as Down’s Syndrome.

Aside from assessing the general wellbeing of the baby, a measurement is taken from a thin skin fold behind the baby’s neck (the nuchal translucency). This measurement, along with your blood test results, will be used by computer software to generate the risk calculations for the pregnancy.

The sonographers at In Focus Radiology are all certified by the Society of Fetal Medicine to perform Nuchal Translucency Scans.

The sonographer will talk briefly to you about your medical history, especially pertaining to the pregnancy.

Please note – NT scans do not give definite diagnoses, only a risk assessment. Your doctor will be able to discuss the results with you at your next appointment.

Preparation:

2 hours before your examination time, empty your bladder. Over the next hour, drink 1 Litre of water. Then, do not empty your bladder until the sonographer performing your examination asks you to. It is important you have a full bladder for the examination. You should wear a loose-fitting, two-piece outfit for the examination. You may eat as normal.

Please obtain your blood results prior to your examination. The results of your Ultrasound will be correlated with your blood tests as well as personal attributes such as height, age and weight to formulate a risk assessment.

Exam Time:

Approximately 20-30 minutes. This time can vary as the success of the examination greatly depends on the position of the baby. The sonographer may request you to go for a walk and return a little later if the baby is not in the desired position.

nuchal button

A pelvic ultrasound provides pictures of the structures and organs in the lower abdomen or pelvis. The primary structures being examined are the uterus, cervix and ovaries. In some instances the sonographer may also examine the bladder and kidneys.

 

Preparation:

2 hours before your examination time, empty your bladder. Over the next hour, drink 1 Litre of water. Then, do not empty your bladder until the sonographer performing your examination asks you to.

It is important you have a full bladder for the examination. You should wear a loose-fitting, two-piece outfit for the examination. You may eat as normal.

Exam Time:

Approximately 20 -30 minutes.

Further Information:

The best way to examine the pelvic organs in detail is to have a “closer” look by performing an internal (trans-vaginal) ultrasound. Trans-vaginal ultrasound is usually recommended on patients who are 18 years and above. It is not always appropriate to have a trans-vaginal ultrasound, e.g. for children, anyone who has not had an internal examination by their doctor, or there may be other reasons that an internal ultrasound is not considered appropriate.

The health professional performing the examination will explain the process in detail and ensure that you are happy to have it performed this way. The trans-vaginal ultrasound is only performed if you consent to the examination. You may request the examination to cease at any time if you wish. Our team of sonographers are highly trained professionals that are sensitive to the nature of this examination.

pelvic female button

The male pelvic ultrasound is essentially the same as a renal ultrasound performed on a male patient. It is used to help diagnose problems with the bladder, prostate, kidneys and other structures relating to the urinary system.

Preparation:


2 hours before your examination time, empty your bladder. Over the next hour, drink 1 Litre of water. Then, do not empty your bladder until the sonographer performing your examination asks you to. It is important you have a full bladder for the examination.

Exam Time:


Approximately 20-30 minutes.

pelvic button

The renal ultrasound is performed to help diagnose problems with the bladder, kidneys and other structures relating to the urinary system.

Preparation:


Do not eat anything for 4 hours prior to your appointment. 2 hours before your examination time, empty your bladder. Over the next hour, drink 1 Litre of water. Then, do not empty your bladder until the sonographer performing your examination asks you to. It is important you have a full bladder for the examination.

Exam Time:


Approximately 20-30 minutes.

renal button

Ultrasound is typically used to assess masses felt by the patient or doctor, diagnose results of trauma to the scrotal area, diagnose causes of testicular pain or swelling and evaluate the cause of infertility. Since ultrasound is very effective in assessing soft tissue it is the ideal method to examine the contents of the scrotal sac. Our team of sonographers are highly trained professionals that are sensitive to the nature of this examination

Preparation:


There is no preparation for this type of examination.

Exam Time:


Approximately 20 -30 minutes.

testicular button

An ultrasound of the thyroid is typically used to help diagnose a lump in the thyroid or a thyroid that is not functioning properly.

Preparation:


There is no specific preparation for this examination.

Exam Time:


Approximately 20-30 minutes.

thyroid button

Vascular Ultrasound is performed to help diagnose problems with the blood vessels and blood flow within the body.

Preparation:


No specific preparation is required. However, loose fitting clothing is preferred. Depending on the area being imaged, you may need to remove clothing and jewellery that may obscure the scanning site.

Exam Time:


Approximately 20-30 minutes.

Further Information:


Whilst we have a skilled team of professionals, some aspects of vascular ultrasound are highly specialised. If we are unable to assist you with the type of vascular ultrasound you require, we will direct you to the most appropriate centre that will assist you.

ultrasound button

*We Bulk Bill most Medicare eligible services. There is a small out of pocket fee for some highly specialised services, including Obstetric 12 week (Nuchal Translucency) and 18 week (Morphology) scans.

If you are unsure, please speak with one of our friendly staff members prior to your appointment.

What To Expect During Your Ultrasound Exam At In Focus:

woman infocus

We are here for you

We understand that medical procedures can sometimes be overwhelming, but please feel free to call our friendly staff to discuss any of your questions or concerns ahead of your appointment.

Please note that although we are happy to answer questions, you will need to discuss the results of your procedure directly with your referrer.

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