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Ultrasound

Gentle medical imaging for all stages of your health journey

Ultrasound, sometimes called sonogram, is a radiation-free, non-invasive medical imaging that uses high-frequency sound waves to create in-depth, clear medical images or videos of your organs and soft tissues.

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Wilmington

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Winston-Salem

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What Ultrasound Measures

Ultrasound is commonly used to check the health of your:

Growing baby (prenatal ultrasound)
Belly and between your hips (abdomen and pelvis)
Breasts
Heart
Kidneys and bladder
Muscles and joints (musculoskeletal ultrasound)
Reproductive system, such as your prostate or uterus and ovaries
Thyroid

This test can reliably discover conditions that may be causing you discomfort in these areas, such as:

Kidney stones
Arthritis
Muscle sprains and tears
Trapped nerves
Cysts
Infections
Blockages
Growths
Concerning blood vessels

Ultrasound is often a preferred imaging technique for pregnant parents and others looking for radiation-free imaging.

Types of Ultrasound

Sonogram images are created using a small device that gives off sound waves, called an ultrasound probe. You typically get to watch your images in real time as the images are taken.

There are three main types of ultrasound: external, internal, and endoscopic.

External

The ultrasound probe takes images from outside your body, through your skin. This is often used for prenatal and heart ultrasounds. The process typically looks like:

You lie back on a table.
Your technician:
- Puts a water-based lubricating gel on the skin of the area to be scanned. This enables the probe to move smoothly and ensures the probe doesn’t lose contact with your skin. This gel may be a little cold but shouldn’t irritate your skin.
- Runs the probe over your skin to take the images.
- Will wipe off the gel when the procedure is done.

Internal

Endoscopic

The ultrasound probe goes into your body attached to a long, thin flexible tube with a light on the end (endoscope). This is often used for scans of your throat (esophagus) and stomach. You typically lie on your side while your care team expertly and gently moves the endoscope down your throat.

Your care team may take several steps to make this procedure more comfortable for you:

Numb your throat
Give you a calming sedative
Protect your teeth and keep your mouth open with a mouth guard

CIMT test

Novant Health provides a specialty ultrasound called carotid intima-media thickness test, or CIMT test. A CIMT test measures the thickness of your carotid artery walls. Thickened arteries can increase your risk for stroke, heart attack, and other cardiovascular conditions. A CIMT scan can find early signs of this thickening — before you have symptoms — that might not be picked up by other tests.

Your doctor may recommend CIMT testing if you are 30 to 45 (men) or 55 (women) years old and high risk for artery thickening due to high:

Cholesterol
Blood pressure
Blood sugar
Tobacco use

For Your Safety

It's possible you may be given a contrast solution for this exam. This helps make your images as clear as possible. If a contrast solution is needed, it's possible you may:

Be given the solution through an injection or intravenous line (IV)
Need to adjust your eating and drinking habits before the exam
Have some mild side effects

When contrast is needed, it's possible the scan could have more risk for certain people. Make sure your care team knows:

If you have any allergies at all, especially to iodine or contrast solution
Your long-term and recent medical history
Any medications or supplements you take

Allergic reactions are extremely rare. If you do have a reaction, our expert providers are trained to provide the help you need.

Find Imaging Centers Near You.

The care team referring you for imaging may help you set up your appointment at a particular location. You can also choose to schedule your imaging appointment at the imaging center most convenient to you. Visit individual imaging center websites to learn which specific types of imaging are offered at or to schedule at that location.

The Importance of Mammograms

Getting a mammogram is one of the easiest, yet most important, steps you can take to protect your breast health. Did you know you can schedule your routine screening mammogram online in minutes, without a referral from your doctor?

Use the following links to view locations near you and choose a convenient date and time for your mammogram. (Patients in the Wilmington area can conveniently schedule using MyChart.) Many locations offer extended hours, making it easy for you to take control of your health.

Schedule a Mammogram (MyChart) Schedule a Mammogram

Woman having a mammography examination at a clinic with a female technician.

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