Ultrasound scan

An ultrasound scan is a procedure that uses high frequency sound waves to create a picture of a part of the inside of your body.

The ultrasound scanner has a probe that gives off sound waves. The probe looks a bit like a microphone. The sound waves bounce off the organs inside your body, and the probe picks them up. The probe links to a computer that turns the sound waves into a picture on the screen.

Ultrasound scans aren't painful but can cause some discomfort. You might have it at one of the following:

• your GP surgery

• local community clinic

• in your hospital x-ray or ultrasound department

A specialist healthcare professional called a sonographer or a ​radiologist​ usually does the test.

Why do I need an ultrasound scan?

Ultrasound scans can help to:

• diagnose conditions including a number of different types of cancer

• guide doctors when they need to take a tissue sample (biopsies)

Types of ultrasound scans

There are different types of ultrasound scans. The type you need depends on the area of your body you're having scanned. They include:

• external ultrasound scan - when the doctor or sonographer moves a probe over your skin

• internal ultrasound scan - when the doctor or sonographer inserts a probe into your body. For example, into your vagina or back passage

Internal ultrasound scans

Sometimes, doctors need to put the ultrasound probe inside your body to get a clearer picture.  Examples of an internal scan include:

• a rectal ultrasound to look at the prostate gland

• a vaginal ultrasound to look at the ovaries, womb and surrounding structures

• an endoscopic ultrasound to look at your ​digestive system​

• an endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)- to look at the inside of the breathing tubes (airways) in your lungs

Rectal ultrasound 

You have this scan to check your prostate gland. This is called a transrectal ultrasound or TRUS. Trans rectal means that the doctor examines your prostate by putting the ultrasound probe into your back passage (rectum). The probe is about the width of a thumb. It's covered with a protective sheath like a condom and has some lubricating gel on it.  

You might also have a TRUS guided ​biopsy​ . For this test your doctor takes a sample of tissue during a TRUS. They use a thin needle to take the biopsy from the prostate. 

Read about having a transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) and biopsy

Transvaginal ultrasound 

During a transvaginal ultrasound scan the probe is put into the ​vagina​ . The scan can show changes in your womb, ovaries, and other areas of the pelvis. For example, thickening of the womb lining.

A transvaginal ultrasound scan shouldn't be painful but can cause some discomfort. 

Read more about having a transvaginal scan

Endoscopic ultrasound

This is a combination of having an endoscopy and an ultrasound. An endoscope is a long flexible tube with a light and camera attached.

Doctors usually use it to look at the inside of your digestive system. The endoscope can also have an ultrasound probe at the tip. This gives doctors more detailed information. 

Doctors use endoscopic ultrasound to look at:

• the wall of the oesophagus (food pipe)

• the wall of the stomach

• part of the small bowel (duodenum)

• the gallbladder and bile ducts

Get more information on having an endoscopy

Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)

This test uses a narrow flexible tube to look at the inside of the breathing tubes (airways) in your lungs. The tube has an ultrasound probe. It uses high frequency sound waves to create pictures of the lungs and structures outside the airway walls, such as the ​lymph nodes​ .

Your doctor can see any areas that look abnormal and take samples (biopsies) to test.

Find out more about having an endobronchial ultrasound