Abdominal ultrasound
Abdominal ultrasound in Paris
Abdominal pain ?
Abdominal pain, often acute, signals a variety of conditions. It's vital to consult a doctor in the event of persistent pain. These pains can originate from a variety of sources, including the liver or gallbladder, and require medical attention.
Unexplained weight loss accompanying these pains is a worrying symptom. The attending physician will assess the associated symptoms to diagnose the cause. Pain located in the stomach may indicate specific illnesses.
Conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and ovarian cysts are common causes of abdominal pain. Sometimes surgery is required to treat these conditions. Types of abdominal pain vary, and each type gives clues to the underlying cause.
In some cases, an ectopic pregnancy causing severe abdominal pain requires urgent intervention. So it's crucial to recognize these signals and act quickly.
In short, acute abdominal pain should always be taken seriously. Prompt consultation with an attending physician is recommended to avoid complications.
What is an abdominal ultrasound ?
Abdominal ultrasound consists of exploring the solid and fluid-containing organs of the abdomen - liver, pancreas, gall bladder, bile ducts, kidneys, spleen - as well as the blood vessels. Particular attention is also paid to the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava.
Why do I need an abdominal ultrasound?
The world of medical imaging has made significant strides in diagnosing and understanding the human body. As one of these technologies, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) offers detailed images of internal structures without requiring invasive procedures. In this article, we discuss the crucial role of lumbar spine MRI in diagnosing conditions affecting the lower back. abdominal ultrasound can be prescribed for abdominal pain. It can be used to diagnose various pathologies affecting the different organs of the abdomen.
What's more, it's particularly useful for pathology follow-up.
Last but not least, it can be used to detect and highlight abnormal abdominal masses (lymph node, calculus) and distinguish a solid mass from a liquid mass (e.g. cyst).
What pathologies or anomalies can be detected?
The world of medical imaging has made significant strides in diagnosing and understanding the human body. As one of these technologies, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) offers detailed images of internal structures without requiring invasive procedures. In this article, we discuss the crucial role of lumbar spine MRI in diagnosing conditions affecting the lower back. abdominal ultrasound can prove decisive in the presence of abdominal pain. It can be used to diagnose various pathologies affecting the different organs of the abdomen:
- Calculations at the gall bladder ;
- Cirrhosis, a liver steatosis a cyst liver tumor;
- Dilatation or obstruction of the bile ducts;
- Pancreatitis, cysts in the pancreas, fibrosis;
- Fibrosis, necrosis rupture of the spleen ;
- From lymph nodes intra-abdominal (adenopathies) ;
- Vessel thrombosis;
- From kidney stones, a dilated kidney;
- Ascites (presence of fluid in the abdominal cavity).
Ultrasound can also be used to guide biopsies. However, in some cases doppler technique is necessary when performing an ultrasound scan.
Abdominal ultrasound appointment
Make an appointment for an pelvic ultrasound at one of our centers:
Bachaumont Radiology 75002
Clinique Drouot 75009
Blomet radiology 75015
Radiology Paris 75020 - Belleville
What is an echo-doppler?
The Doppler technique complements an ultrasound examination by recording the speed and circulatory direction of vessels, based on the sonar principle. Doppler is performed at the same time as ultrasound, and requires no special equipment or preparation.
Doppler ultrasound helps the physician to see and evaluate :
- blood circulation blockages (such as clots)
- vessel narrowing
- tumors and congenital vascular malformations
- reduced or absent blood flow to various organs, such as the testicles or ovaries
- increased blood flow, which may be a sign of infection.
In addition, other procedures can be performed to assess the abdomen, including abdominal x-rays the computer tomography (CT scan) of the abdomen and the abdominal angiography. For example, as the stomach and intestine cannot be studied by ultrasound, it is necessary to turn to CT scan, MRI or fibroscopy.
How is an abdominal ultrasound performed?
During an abdominal ultrasound scan, the practitioner uses an ultrasound probe to slide over the patient's abdomen. This method is called the transcutaneous route, where the probe passes through the abdominal wall. In some cases, an alternative method is used, the endocavitary route, which involves inserting the probe into the vagina or rectum to get closer to the area to be examined.
Before beginning, the practitioner applies a cool gel to the patient's abdomen. This gel has a crucial function: it facilitates ultrasound transmission from the probe to the internal organs. By moving the probe over the abdomen, the practitioner captures various cross-sectional images of the body's interior. These images appear in real time on a screen connected to the ultrasound machine. This process provides detailed views of internal structures, essential for medical diagnosis.
When should I go to the radiologist?
Any pain persisting for more than 6 weeks should be investigated by a rheumatologist.
What are the advantages of abdominal ultrasound?
- Most ultrasound scans are non-invasive (no needles or injections).
- Ultrasound imaging is extremely safe and reliable. does not use radiation.
- Abdominal ultrasound provides clear image of soft tissue that don't show up well on X-ray images.
- Ultrasound allows real-time imaging. This makes it a good tool for guiding minimally invasive procedures such as needle biopsies and fluid aspiration.
Further information: echo-endoscopy, an additional tool for diagnosing abdominal pain.
Abdominal echo-endoscopy is an imaging technique increasingly used to diagnose diseases of the abdomen. It combines the advantages of endoscopy and ultrasound, enabling in-depth exploration of the digestive tract and surrounding structures, including the liver and kidneys. This painless method is particularly effective in detecting abnormalities, such as lesions in the digestive organs or masses in the pelvis. When a radiologist prescribes an echo-endoscopy, he or she is often looking to visualize arteries and organs in order to detect vascular or liver pathologies, but also to assess the condition of the colon and other parts of the digestive system.
The examination is performed using an ultrasound scanner that generates anatomical images in real time. These images can be used to analyze organ structure and identify potential abnormalities, facilitating early diagnosis of serious diseases. If a suspicious lesion is detected, a biopsy can be performed simultaneously, providing tissue samples for histological analysis. This combined approach reduces the need for operative surgical interventions, as it offers a detailed view without the need for invasive procedures. What's more, echo-endoscopy can also be used to guide the physician through targeted interventions, improving the precision of treatment. In short, this technique is an invaluable tool for gastroenterologists and radiologists, enabling them to optimize the detection and diagnosis of abdominal pathologies while minimizing the risk to patients.
Last update: November 1, 2024
Controlled by Dr Antoine Hakime
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