Indication and Requests for Radiological Examination

Ultrasound 

Ultrasound (US) uses sound waves to create harmless dynamic images (see Ultrasound Technique). It is quick, non-invasive, and nearly always available. US is especially useful for imaging soft tissue and is effective for assessing the abdomen, breast tissue, the scrotum, the neck or the skeletal/musculoskeletal system. It is a dynamic form of imaging where, for example, peristalsis of the intestines, mobility of a structure (e.g. a stone in the gallbladder or inguinal hernia) and compressibility of a structure (e.g. appendix, gallbladder, or veins in the upper or lower extremities) can be seen. See figure 4.

Further benefit comes from the direct contact between the radiologist and the patient. The patient can better indicate the location of the pain and the radiologist can observe pain with pressure from the US probe. There is also the possibility for US-guided injections (e.g. with bursitis) or US-guided biopsies to be performed (e.g. with a suspected liver lesion).