What are some common uses of the procedure?
Ultrasound is a useful way of examining many of the body's internal organs, including but not limited to the:

1. Heart and blood vessels, including the abdominal aorta and its major branches
2. Liver
3. Gallbladder
4. Spleen
5. Pancreas
6. Kidneys
7. Bladder
8. Uterus, ovaries, and unborn child (fetus) in pregnant patients
9. Eyes
10. Thyroid and parathyroid glands
11. Scrotum (testicles)
    

Ultrasound is used to help physicians diagnose symptoms such as:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Infection

Ultrasound is also used to:

• Guide procedures such as needle biopsies, in which needles are used to extract sample cells from an abnormal area for laboratory testing.
• Image the breasts and to guide biopsy of breast cancer ( Ultrasound-Guided Breast Biopsy ).
• Diagnose a variety of heart conditions and to assess damage after a heart attack or other illness.

Doppler ultrasound images can help the physician to see and evaluate:

• Blockages to blood flow (such as clots)
• Narrowing of vessels (which may be caused by plaque)
• Tumors and congenital malformation