To uphold an accurate diagnosis, Doctor/Specialist usually send the patient for doing ultrasound especially Abdominal ultrasound. If the the Operator of Ultrasonography has 3 criterias, I’m sure that the accuracy of diagnosis is 99%.

Before sending you to ultrasound, you must be fasting about 6 hours before examination. No food but can be plain water. It purposes to make your gall bladder size is enlarged, so we can see the problem inside easily. Your urinary bladder should be full of water. Any abnormality is only seen if the urinary bladder is full. To make it smoothly, patient is recommended to drink the water 30 minutes in advance, but keep holding it not to urinate until examination done.

The 3 criteria is :

a. High Skilled

Sonographer or Radiologist of Ultrasonography will attend and practice first before taking the case. More training they took more skills they got. Basic up to advanced trainings should be taken first to enhance their ultrasound skills.

b. Experienced

Experience is not only based on the long they worked but also the variation case they solved. Review by their senior Operator is important to update knowledge and to minimize the mistakes.

c. High Technology of Ultrasound Machine

More high technology of ultrasound machine, more accurate the result we will get. 4D of Ultrasound equipment is clearer of contrast, detail, image condition, etc. Beside that it’s easier to be operated.

For complicated examination, the requirements above is needed except for general examination.

What parts of abdomen will be examined by ultrasound?

1. Liver

Liver is normally seen if normal in size, smooth surface, homogenous echotexture. Biliary tract intrahepatic is also normal limit. No sign of SOL, Cyst or any other nodules. This organ is the biggest size intra abdomen located on the right upper abdomen area. Cyst, hepatitis, mass/tumour, cirrhosis, enlargement, etc is often seen on the ultrasound images.

2. Gall Bladder

The position of gall bladder is posterior to the right lobe of the liver. Fully evaluation of gall bladder organ is important to find gall-stone, acute cholecystitis, cancer, polyp, worms or cystic lesion.

3. Both Kidneys

Our kidneys are like a bean-shape configuration. The normal length is approximately 12 cm. A lot of artery and vein over there. Cyst, stone, solid tumour, hydronephrosis, carcinoma, renal abscess can happen commonly. CT-Scan and MRI are used for further test.

4. Spleen

Normally, spleen is located under the left hemidiaphragm. It’s upper pole near the gastric fundus. Spleen enlargement or spleenomegaly is often visualized on ultrasound. Acute inflammation and infection can cause the spleen disorders.

5. Pancreas

Pancreas lies obliquely in the upper abdomen with the main pancreatic duct in its center. Cancer, pancreatic dilatation, cyst, pancreatitis, obstruction is commonly happen for the pancreas.

6. Urinary Bladder

Normal urinary bladder is smooth and homogenous echostructure. Cystitis and calcification are often found on the ultrasound finding. Maximum and minimum volume are measured to ensure the function and contour of the urinary bladder.

7. Prostate (for Male)

The position of prostate is under the urinary bladder. Calcification Prostatic hypertrophy can happen on the older men above 4o years because of their age. It’s normally thing, but if it influences of urinate should be cured. Prostate hypertrophy if your prostate size is more than 4 cm in diameter.

8. Uterus & Both Adnexa (for Female)

Uterus and adnexa is better handled by Obstetric-Gynecologist. Beside the patient is more comfortable, if there is any abnormality will be treated directly. Cyst, tumour, inflammation and many other abnormalities can be seen on ultrasound.

9 . Lower Abdomen

Lower abdominal area is also evaluated by radiologist or Sonographer to find any abnormality for example : appendicitis, colon meteorism, mass or tumour, etc. Appendicitis is shown by “Doughnut Sign” on the ultrasound images.

Hi.. mother, please ask everything to Operator of ultrasound during examination. It’s important thing because if they shout you suffer something problems like cyst or stone in the kidney or gall bladder, they must also explain the normal one as comparison. In some countries the Operator of ultrasound and the ordered Doctor is different, so you will have a second opinion before go back to ordered Doctor.

I hope this article will be useful for you.

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