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Abdominal Ultrasound - Why It Is Done
About this test
Abdominal ultrasound is done to:
- Find the cause of abdominal pain.
- Find, measure, or monitor an aneurysm in the aorta. An aneurysm may cause a large, pulsing lump in the abdomen.
- Check the size, shape, and position of the liver. An ultrasound may be done to evaluate jaundice and other problems of the liver, including liver masses, cirrhosis, fat deposits in the liver (called fatty liver), or abnormal liver function tests.
- Detect
gallstones, inflammation of the gallbladder
(cholecystitis), or blocked bile ducts. See a picture of a
gallstone
. - Learn the size of an enlarged spleen and look for damage or disease.
- Find problems with the pancreas, such as a pancreatic tumor.
- Look for blocked urine flow in a kidney. A kidney ultrasound may also be done to find out the size of the kidneys, detect kidney masses, detect fluid surrounding the kidneys, investigate causes for recurring urinary tract infections, or check the condition of transplanted kidneys.
- Find out whether a mass in any of the abdominal organs (such as the liver) is a solid tumor or a simple fluid-filled cyst.
- Guide the placement of a needle or other instrument during a biopsy.
- Look for fluid buildup in the abdominal cavity (ascites). An ultrasound also may be done to guide the needle during a procedure to remove fluid from the abdominal cavity (paracentesis).
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: December 4, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Howard Schaff, MD - Diagnostic Radiology | |
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