General Ultrasound Specialist

Ultrasound imaging uses sound wave technology to examine the internal parts of your body. At SonoBreasts in Santa Monica, California, Jasmine Khorsandi and the team perform general ultrasound testing to examine any body part, looking for abnormalities or lumps. To find out more about general ultrasound testing, call the Los Angeles area office or schedule an appointment online today.

What is a general ultrasound?

A general ultrasound is one of the imaging tests available at SonoBreasts. Ultrasound imaging uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of the inside parts of your body for examination.

During a general ultrasound, your sonographer places an ultrasound wand, or transducer, on your skin over the part of the body under examination. They slide the wand over your skin as it sends in the sound waves, which bounce off your body part and return to the wand.

The ultrasound wand sends the information to a computer that translates the sounds into real-time images — in a matter of seconds. With a general ultrasound, you can see the structure and function of the internal body part. 

Ultrasound testing is radiation-free, making it a safe imaging tool. It also has the ability to detect lumps like cancer better than X-rays like a mammogram, even in dense breast tissue. 

Why might I need a general ultrasound?

The SonoBreasts team performs a general ultrasound to look for lumps or other abnormalities on any part of the body. Types of conditions a general ultrasound might look for include:

• Underlying cause of pain and swelling
• Lumps in the breasts, kidneys, liver, or thyroid
• Blockages or narrowing in blood vessels
• Structural abnormalities of the heart or abdominal organs

The team may perform a Doppler ultrasound to evaluate the flow of blood through your blood vessels. That ultrasound test helps look for circulation problems like blood clots and atherosclerosis (buildup of plaque along the blood vessel wall).

What happens during a general ultrasound?

A general ultrasound at SonoBreasts takes 10 to 15 minutes. The team asks that you come to your appointment wearing comfortable clothing. Your sonographer applies a gel to your skin and then moves the wand over the internal organ to get the images. 

You may feel some pressure from the ultrasound wand, but this imaging test causes very little discomfort.

What happens after a general ultrasound?

You can go back to your usual activities after your general ultrasound at SonoBreasts unless otherwise directed by your health care provider. The team gets results from your ultrasound test within the week. 

If you have concerns about a lump or bump and think a general ultrasound can provide the information you need, the team at SonoBreasts can help. 

To find out more about general ultrasound, call SonoBreasts or book an appointment online today.