An abdominal ultrasound can help doctors evaluate many of the organs and blood vessels inside the abdomen, including the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, bile ducts, and abdominal aorta. It is commonly ordered to investigate abdominal pain, bloating, abnormal blood test results, suspected gallstones or kidney stones, liver problems, and certain vascular conditions.

Because abdominal ultrasound uses sound waves rather than ionizing radiation, it is a noninvasive imaging test that can provide useful information without exposing the patient to X-rays. In many cases, it is one of the first imaging studies a doctor may order when symptoms suggest a problem involving the upper abdomen.

What Is an Abdominal Ultrasound?

An abdominal ultrasound, also called abdominal sonography, uses high-frequency sound waves to create real-time images of structures inside the abdomen. During the exam, a technologist moves a small device called a transducer across the skin while images appear on a monitor.

The exam can provide information about the size, shape, appearance, and position of abdominal organs. Depending on the type of ultrasound ordered, it can also help evaluate blood flow through certain vessels.

An abdominal ultrasound is generally painless, does not require an incision, and does not use ionizing radiation. These characteristics make ultrasound a useful diagnostic imaging option for many common abdominal conditions.

What Organs Can Be Seen on an Abdominal Ultrasound?

An abdominal ultrasound can evaluate several important organs and structures, although exactly what is examined depends on the type of study your doctor orders.

Common structures evaluated during an abdominal ultrasound include:

• Liver
• Gallbladder
• Bile ducts
• Kidneys
• Pancreas
• Spleen
• Abdominal aorta
• Other abdominal blood vessels

The amount of detail available can vary depending on factors such as the organ being examined, body anatomy, intestinal gas, and the specific clinical question. Ultrasound is extremely useful for certain conditions, but it cannot detect every possible cause of abdominal symptoms.

What Can an Abdominal Ultrasound Detect?

An abdominal ultrasound can detect or help evaluate a wide range of abnormalities. In some cases, it can directly identify a condition, while in others it provides information that helps your doctor determine whether additional imaging or testing is necessary.

Gallstones

Gallstones are one of the most common conditions evaluated with abdominal ultrasound. These hardened deposits develop inside the gallbladder and may cause upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or discomfort after eating.

Ultrasound can show gallstones and may also identify signs of inflammation or obstruction involving the gallbladder and bile ducts. According to RadiologyInfo, abdominal ultrasound is the most commonly performed imaging test for evaluating gallbladder abnormalities.

Your doctor may be especially likely to order an ultrasound if you experience pain in the upper-right portion of the abdomen, particularly when symptoms occur after eating.

Gallbladder Inflammation

Abdominal ultrasound can also help evaluate cholecystitis, which is inflammation of the gallbladder. This condition is frequently associated with gallstones that block the normal flow of bile.

Ultrasound may reveal changes in the gallbladder that suggest inflammation and can help doctors determine whether additional evaluation or treatment is necessary. Symptoms such as persistent upper-right abdominal pain, fever, nausea, or vomiting may lead a doctor to investigate the gallbladder.

Kidney Stones

Kidney stones can sometimes be identified using abdominal or renal ultrasound. Ultrasound may show the stone itself, changes in the kidney, or swelling caused by an obstruction to urine flow.

Doctors may order an ultrasound when a patient has pain in the side or back, blood in the urine, urinary symptoms, or a history of kidney stones. However, the most appropriate imaging test depends on the patient’s symptoms and clinical situation.

RadiologyInfo includes kidney stones among the conditions abdominal ultrasound may help diagnose.

Liver Disease

The liver is one of the primary organs evaluated during an abdominal ultrasound. The examination can help identify changes in liver size, shape, texture, and appearance.

Doctors may use abdominal ultrasound to investigate abnormal liver function tests, suspected fatty liver disease, chronic liver disease, or other abnormalities found during a physical examination or laboratory testing.

Ultrasound may also identify certain liver masses, cysts, or other structural changes, although additional imaging such as CT or MRI may sometimes be required to characterize a finding more completely.

Fatty Liver

Fat accumulation in the liver can cause changes in its appearance on ultrasound. For this reason, abdominal ultrasound is commonly used as part of an evaluation when fatty liver disease is suspected.

Some people with fatty liver have no noticeable symptoms, and the condition may first be suspected because of abnormal liver blood tests or an incidental imaging finding.

An ultrasound can suggest the presence of increased fat within the liver, but your doctor may use additional clinical information, laboratory results, or other tests to determine the cause and severity.

Liver Cysts or Masses

Abdominal ultrasound can detect some cysts, masses, or other focal abnormalities within the liver. A cyst is usually a fluid-filled structure, while a solid lesion may have a different ultrasound appearance.

Finding a liver lesion on ultrasound does not automatically mean it is cancerous. Many liver findings are benign, but some require additional imaging to determine exactly what they represent.

If an abnormality is discovered, your doctor may recommend a CT scan, MRI, follow-up ultrasound, laboratory testing, or another diagnostic procedure depending on its characteristics.

Bile Duct Problems

The bile ducts carry bile from the liver and gallbladder toward the intestine. Ultrasound can help determine whether these ducts are enlarged or whether there are signs suggesting an obstruction.

Gallstones are one possible cause of bile duct blockage, but other conditions can also interfere with normal bile flow.

Symptoms such as jaundice, dark urine, pale stools, abdominal pain, or abnormal liver tests may lead a healthcare provider to evaluate the liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts with ultrasound.

Kidney Abnormalities

In addition to kidney stones, ultrasound can help evaluate kidney size and structure and may identify cysts, swelling, or some masses.

One finding doctors may look for is hydronephrosis, which occurs when urine backs up into the kidney and causes it to become enlarged. This may happen when something blocks normal urine drainage.

Depending on what the ultrasound shows, further evaluation may be necessary to determine the cause.

Pancreatic Abnormalities

The pancreas is located deep within the upper abdomen and can sometimes be evaluated with ultrasound. Doctors may look for changes in its size, structure, or surrounding tissues when pancreatic disease is suspected.

However, the pancreas can be difficult to visualize completely because intestinal gas may block the ultrasound waves. If the pancreas cannot be adequately evaluated or if an abnormality is suspected, CT or MRI may provide additional information.

Spleen Enlargement

Abdominal ultrasound can measure the spleen and determine whether it is enlarged. An enlarged spleen, known as splenomegaly, can occur with several medical conditions, including infections, blood disorders, liver disease, and other systemic illnesses.

Ultrasound can document changes in spleen size and appearance, but additional testing may be necessary to determine why the enlargement is present.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

An abdominal aortic aneurysm, or AAA, is an abnormal enlargement of the abdominal portion of the aorta, the major artery carrying blood from the heart to the rest of the body.

Abdominal ultrasound is commonly used to detect and measure abdominal aortic aneurysms and is the preferred screening examination in appropriate patients. Mayo Clinic notes that ultrasound is the most common test used to screen for AAA.

Your doctor may recommend an abdominal aortic ultrasound based on your age, smoking history, family history, symptoms, or other risk factors.

Abnormal Blood Flow

A specialized examination called Doppler ultrasound can evaluate blood flow through blood vessels.

When used during an abdominal ultrasound, Doppler imaging may help doctors assess blood flow to organs such as the liver or kidneys and identify certain vascular abnormalities. It can also help identify narrowing, obstruction, or unusual blood-flow patterns in some vessels.

Why Would a Doctor Order an Abdominal Ultrasound?

There is no single reason doctors order an abdominal ultrasound. The test is often requested when symptoms, laboratory results, or a physical examination suggest that an abdominal organ should be evaluated.

Common reasons include:

• Persistent or unexplained abdominal pain
• Upper-right abdominal pain
• Abdominal swelling or bloating
• Abnormal liver function tests
• Suspected gallstones
• Suspected kidney stones
• Jaundice
• Unexplained changes in liver or kidney laboratory results
• Possible enlargement of an abdominal organ
• Follow-up of a previously identified abnormality
• Screening or monitoring for an abdominal aortic aneurysm

Your doctor will consider the location and duration of your symptoms along with your medical history before deciding which type of imaging is most appropriate.

Can an Abdominal Ultrasound Find the Cause of Abdominal Pain?

Sometimes. Abdominal pain has many possible causes, and ultrasound is particularly useful when doctors suspect problems involving the gallbladder, liver, kidneys, bile ducts, spleen, or certain blood vessels.

For example, right upper abdominal pain may lead to an ultrasound to look for gallstones or gallbladder inflammation, while pain in the side or back may prompt evaluation of the kidneys.

However, a normal abdominal ultrasound does not mean that every possible cause of abdominal pain has been ruled out. Some conditions involving the stomach, intestines, appendix, pancreas, or other structures may require CT, MRI, endoscopy, laboratory testing, or another diagnostic approach.

Can Abdominal Ultrasound Detect Cancer?

Ultrasound can sometimes detect abnormal masses or changes within abdominal organs, but it generally cannot determine by itself whether every mass is cancerous.

The appearance, location, size, borders, and other characteristics of a finding can provide useful information. If an ultrasound reveals a suspicious abnormality, your doctor may recommend additional imaging such as CT or MRI to evaluate it more thoroughly.

In some situations, a biopsy may ultimately be necessary to determine the nature of a mass.

Ultrasound can also be used to help guide a biopsy needle to a specific area when tissue sampling is required.

What Can an Abdominal Ultrasound Not Detect?

Although abdominal ultrasound is useful, it has limitations. Ultrasound waves do not travel well through air, which means gas within the stomach or intestines can interfere with visualization of deeper structures.

Body anatomy and other technical factors can also affect image quality. Some abnormalities may simply be better evaluated using CT or MRI.

An abdominal ultrasound may therefore be the first imaging test your doctor orders rather than the only test you need. If symptoms continue despite a normal ultrasound or an area cannot be fully evaluated, another type of imaging may be recommended.

Abdominal Ultrasound vs. CT Scan

Abdominal ultrasound and CT scans can both evaluate abdominal symptoms, but they work differently and are useful for different clinical questions.

Ultrasound uses sound waves and does not expose the patient to ionizing radiation. It is particularly useful for evaluating the gallbladder, bile ducts, liver, kidneys, abdominal aorta, and certain other structures.

CT uses X-rays to create highly detailed cross-sectional images and can provide a broader view of many abdominal and pelvic structures. CT may be preferred in certain emergency situations or when doctors need to evaluate structures that are difficult to see with ultrasound.

One test is not universally better than the other. The appropriate examination depends on your symptoms and what your healthcare provider needs to evaluate.

Abdominal Ultrasound vs. MRI

MRI can provide detailed images of soft tissues without using ionizing radiation and may be recommended when doctors need additional information after an ultrasound.

For example, an abnormal liver finding discovered on ultrasound may sometimes require MRI for further characterization. Specialized MRI examinations can also provide detailed views of the liver, pancreas, bile ducts, blood vessels, and other abdominal structures.

Ultrasound is generally simpler and faster, which is one reason it is often used as an initial diagnostic study.

How Do You Prepare for an Abdominal Ultrasound?

Preparation depends on which organs your doctor wants examined. Some abdominal ultrasound examinations require fasting for several hours beforehand because food and gas in the digestive system can affect the quality of the images.

For other types of ultrasound, different preparation may be necessary. Follow the specific instructions given by the imaging center rather than assuming that every abdominal ultrasound requires the same preparation.

If you take medications regularly, do not stop taking them unless your healthcare provider specifically tells you to do so. Mayo Clinic notes that patients may be asked to avoid eating and drinking for several hours before some abdominal ultrasound examinations.

What Happens During an Abdominal Ultrasound?

During the examination, you will usually lie on your back on an exam table. A technologist applies ultrasound gel to your abdomen and moves a handheld transducer over the skin.

The gel helps sound waves travel between the transducer and your body so that clear images can be produced. You may occasionally be asked to change position or hold your breath briefly while specific images are obtained.

The exam is generally painless, although you may feel some pressure when the transducer is placed over a tender area.

Many abdominal ultrasound examinations take approximately 30 minutes, although the exact time can vary depending on what needs to be evaluated.

What Happens After an Abdominal Ultrasound?

Once the examination is complete, the images are reviewed by a radiologist, a physician who specializes in interpreting medical imaging.

The radiologist prepares a report describing the findings and sends it to the healthcare provider who ordered the examination. Your doctor then uses those results together with your symptoms, medical history, physical examination, and other tests to determine what should happen next.

A finding on ultrasound does not always provide a final diagnosis. Depending on the results, your doctor may recommend observation, treatment, laboratory testing, another ultrasound, CT, MRI, or another diagnostic procedure.

Questions to Ask About Your Abdominal Ultrasound

If your doctor has recommended an abdominal ultrasound, it can be helpful to understand exactly what the examination is intended to evaluate.

Consider asking:

• What organs will my abdominal ultrasound examine?
• What condition are you looking for?
• Do I need to fast before the ultrasound?
• Can I take my regular medications?
• Will Doppler ultrasound also be performed?
• How long will the examination take?
• Who will interpret the results?
• When will my doctor receive the report?
• Could I need another imaging test afterward?

Knowing the purpose of the exam can make the process easier to understand and help you follow preparation instructions correctly.

When Should You Talk to Your Doctor About Abdominal Symptoms?

Occasional mild abdominal discomfort can have many causes, but persistent, severe, or recurring symptoms should be discussed with a healthcare professional.

Your doctor may recommend an abdominal ultrasound when symptoms suggest a problem involving the gallbladder, liver, kidneys, spleen, pancreas, abdominal aorta, or other abdominal structures.

Seek prompt medical attention for severe or rapidly worsening abdominal pain, especially when it occurs with symptoms such as fainting, persistent vomiting, high fever, difficulty breathing, significant weakness, or other concerning changes.

Abdominal Ultrasound in El Paso

If your healthcare provider recommends an abdominal ultrasound, the examination can provide valuable information about several organs and blood vessels without using ionizing radiation. Professional Radiology provides diagnostic ultrasound and other imaging services in El Paso for patients who need evaluation of abdominal pain, gallbladder concerns, liver abnormalities, kidney problems, and other medical conditions.

The purpose of an abdominal ultrasound is not simply to look at the abdomen generally. Your healthcare provider orders the exam to answer a specific clinical question, and the radiologist evaluates the images with that question in mind.

Understanding what an abdominal ultrasound can detect, why your doctor ordered it, and what the examination involves can help you prepare for your appointment and better understand the role diagnostic imaging plays in identifying the cause of abdominal symptoms.