General Ultrasound

Diagnostic ultrasound, also known as sonography or diagnostic medical sonography, is a safe procedure that employs sound waves to generate images of internal body structures. These images offer valuable insights for diagnosing and guiding treatment for various diseases and conditions. There are no known risks.

Ultrasound is used for many reasons, including:

View the uterus and ovaries during pregnancy and monitor the developing baby’s health
Diagnose gallbladder disease
Evaluate blood flow
Guide a needle for biopsy or tumor treatment
Examine a breast lump
Check the thyroid gland
Find genital and prostate problems
Assess joint inflammation (synovitis)
Evaluate metabolic bone disease

Scheduling Your Test:

Please contact our office at your convenience to schedule an appointment. We look forward to assisting you further.

Before The Test:

Various types of ultrasound tests exist, each with different preparation requirements. Some may necessitate no preparation, while others might involve consuming significant amounts of water beforehand. Alternatively, certain tests may require fasting for several hours prior to the examination. Please click here to see a full list of test preparations.

After The Test:

After completing the test, you can resume your regular activities without any restrictions. If you have any questions or concerns following the test, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

We Perform Many Types Of Ultrasounds:

Abdomen

Your doctor may request an abdominal ultrasound for any of several reasons (mainly to diagnose, identify, or examine the kidney, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, and abdominal aorta):

abdominal pain or distention
gall stones (gallbladder stones)
abnormal liver function
enlarged abdominal organ
kidney stones
aortal aneurysm.

Breast Ultrasound

to examine the internal structures of the breast
to diagnose or determine the nature of an abnormality (for example, a bloody or spontaneous discharge)
to characterize potential abnormalities from an MRI or mammography
to distinguish a non-cancerous lump from a potentially cancerous tumor
to distinguish a solid lump from a fluid-filled one; for example, a benign cyst is fluid-filled; a lump can be both cystic and solid
to examine the area surrounding an abnormality for other features that can assist in diagnosing
for supplemental breast cancer screening
for a breast biopsy.

Liver Elastography

2D shear wave liver elastography is a modern technology to measure the stiffness of your liver. Liver stiffness is caused by the deposition of fibrous scar tissue when the liver tries to repair itself from damage caused by conditions like Hepatitis C. This non-invasive ultrasound scan uses high-frequency sound waves (which are then converted to images) to give your doctor a look inside your liver without the use of radiation, surgery or other invasive procedure. The sound waves are also used to assess the stiffness of your liver.

Gynecologic/Obstetric

Your doctor may request an ultrasound for any of several reasons:

to examine the uterus and ovaries
to inspect the cervix (mouth of the womb) for opening or shortening
to identify multiple pregnancies
to establish the presence of a living fetus or embryo
to identify the position of the placenta or the fetus
to asses fetal growth and/or well being.

For this type of ultrasound, it is best that you wear a two-piece outfit. We will provide you with a grown to wear. Your physician will tell you whether to arrive here for with a full bladder.

Scrotum

Your doctor may request a scrotal ultrasound for any of several reasons, including:

to inspect the prostate, the epididymis (a sperm-collecting tube), the testicles, and the surrounding tissue
to determine the cause of pain (sudden pain can indicate epididymitis, which becomes more serious if left untreated)
to determine the cause of swelling (for example, torsion or inflammation)
to locate undescended testis or testes
to diagnose the effects of trauma on the region
to determine the cause of infertility (for example, varicocele)
to distinguish a solid lump from a fluid-filled one; for example, a benign cyst is fluid-filled; a lump can be both cystic and solid.

Thyroid Gland

The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system (it is one of nine endocrine glands that produce hormones and send them into the bloodstream). Located in the front of the neck (just below the “Adam’s apple”), your doctor may request a thyroid ultrasound to inspect the thyroid gland for:

a lump
to determine the functioning of the gland.

3D Women’s Pelvic Ultrasound

Examines the female pelvic organs including the uterus, the endometrium, the cervix, and the ovaries.

Uses Transabdominal (overview) and transvaginal approaches
Transabdominal approach: scans lower abdomen. Provides an overview of the pelvis rather than detailed images. A small amount of gel is placed on the skin of the lower abdomen. A probe is then used on the gel to produce images.
Transvaginal approach: Internal ultrasound. The ultrasound probe is inserted into the vagina. Can produce clearer pictures due to the greater proximity of the structures. The probe is about 2 cm in diameter and is covered with a disposable protective sheath.
A pelvic ultrasound can be useful to examine problems such as heavy or painful periods, pelvic pain during intercourse, infertility, irregular or infrequent periods, and postmenopausal bleeding.
A thorough evaluation of the uterus can facilitate the evaluation of endometrial polyps (benign growths of the lining of the uterus), uterine fibroids (benign tumors of the muscle of the uterus), or misplaced intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCD).

Salivary Gland

Your doctor may request an ultrasound of the salivary gland(s) for any of a number of reasons:

to examine inflammation, especially if acute
to diagnose disease of the salivary glands (for example, sialosis, sialolithiasis, cysts, adenomas).

Small Parts

Your doctor may request an ultrasound of any part of the body, sometimes referred to as “small parts ultrasound,” and may include the thyroid, salivary gland, neck, scrotum, lumps and bumps, or any part of the body that your doctor would like to see in detail.

MSK

Shoulder and Acromioclavicular (AC) Joint

Shoulder injuries (traumatic or atraumatic) are very common and are not restricted to any particular age group. Shoulder injuries are typically accompanied by pain (from mild to severe and often worse while resting), weakness, and limited range of motion. Acute or chronic pain is often caused by a tear of the rotator cuff and/or biceps tendons.

Your doctor may request an ultrasound image of the shoulder(s) because it gives us (quickly) a clear, precise (as accurate as MRI), dynamic assessment of the soft tissues around the shoulder (to detect and identify impingement and pathology, especially of the rotator cuff).

Hand/Wrist (in Carpal Tunnel)

Electronic devices are expanding the age group and broadening the occurrence of wrist pain (often caused by repetitive movements in the carpal tunnel). A typical example is De Quervain’s tenosynovitis caused by “texting” on smartphones and other portable communication devices (iPad, tablet, Blackberry, iPhone, etc.).

Your doctor may request an ultrasound image of the hand(s) or wrist for any of several reasons:

De Quervains’ tenosynovitis
tendon injuries
inflammation
masses (for example, ganglion cysts caused by trauma)
arthritis and its accompanying chronic pain
ligament tears, caused by severe trauma (either blunt or penetrating trauma)

We use ultrasound imaging for hands and wrists because it gives us (quickly) a clear, precise (highly accurate), dynamic assessment of the soft tissues around the knee (to detect and identify pathology).

Hip/Groin (Adult) and Abdominal Wall

Your doctor may request an ultrasound of the hip or groin to investigate lump(s), mass(es), or hernia. Pain in the hip can be caused by a repetitive injury, for example, trochanteric bursitis.

Hamstring and Calf Complex

Pain in the hamstrings can be an indication of injury to hamstring muscle(s). You may experience sudden pain at the back of the leg during exercise; pain on stretching the hamstring, for example, while bending forward and straightening the knee. Other indications include swelling and bruising.

Your doctor may request an ultrasound image of the hamstring and calf complex for any of several reasons:

to identify/examine strained or pulled hamstring muscle(s)
to identify/examine pathology in other muscles and/or soft tissue within the calf complex.

Knee

Your doctor may request an ultrasound image of the knee(s) for any of several reasons:

a mass, like a Baker’s cyst
injury caused by repetitive movement (arthritis or tendonitis, for example)
tendon or muscle tears caused by sports injuries
ligament tears (most often the result of a severe fall: skiing, skating, soccer)
chronic pain from arthritis
swelling caused by fluid accumulation (from trauma, infection, arthritis). A meniscal tear can also cause swelling.

We use ultrasound imaging for knees because it gives us (quickly) a clear, precise (highly accurate), dynamic assessment of the soft tissues around the knee (to detect and identify pathology).

Ankle

Common in adults, ankle pain can be an indication of a problem caused by

acute or sports injury
arthritis (typically chronic pain)
tears to tendons, muscles, or ligaments
masses (for example, ganglion cysts)
bone fracture(s).
your doctor may request an ultrasound image of the ankle(s) for any of several reasons:
to locate and identify tears to ligaments (often caused by acute injury)
to locate and identify tears to tendons or muscles (usually caused by sports injury)
to identify and/or examine masses (for example, ganglion cysts caused by trauma)
to examine arthritis
to confirm and/or examine bone fracture(s) (often caused by acute injury)
to identify and/or examine a tear to the Achilles’ tendon.

We use ultrasound imaging for ankles because it gives us (quickly) a clear, precise (highly accurate), dynamic assessment of the soft tissues around the ankle (to detect and identify pathology). For example, ultrasound imaging clearly reveals a tear of the Achilles’ tendon.

Foot

Your doctor may request an ultrasound image of the foot for any of several reasons:

to examine plantar fascia

to identify and/or examine Morton’s neuroma.

Hysterosonogram

Hysterosonography is a noninvasive technique that involves the slow infusion of sterile saline solution into the uterus during ultrasound imaging. Hysterosonography allows the physician to evaluate abnormal growths inside the uterus; abnormalities of the tissue lining the uterus (the endometrium); or disorders affecting deeper tissue layers. In certain cases, it can be used to evaluate the fallopian tubes. Hysterosonography does not require either radiation or contrast media, or invasive surgical procedures.

Echocardiogram

This non-invasive ultrasound scan (also called sonography) uses high-frequency sound waves (which are then converted to images) to give your doctor a look inside your heart without the use of radiation, and without surgery or other invasive procedure. The exam typically takes less than 1/2 hour and is available on short notice (usually within a few days).

There are many reasons why your doctor may want you to have an echocardiograph.

Assess damage from previous heart attack (myocardial infarction).
Heart murmur
Palpitations
Hypertension (high blood pressure (to find causes of stress or reduction of blood flow)
Suspected abnormality revealed by ECG (electrocardiogram)
Leaking, insufficiency, or regurgitation of heart valves
Irregular heartbeat
Post-surgery (prosthetic valve insertion, repair, or replacement) follow-up inspection
Identifying the cause of a stroke (shunts or emboli)
A loss of consciousness that cannot be explained (syncope)
Narrowing of the heart valves (mitral or aortic stenosis

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Ask Your Question

info.ME@torontovascular.com
info.LMRC@torontovascular.com

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(416) 296-1911
(416) 288-1333

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Locations

2025 Midland Ave, Suite 200, Scarborough
2683 Lawrence Ave E, Unit 5, Scarborough