Exams and Preps > Ultrasound

Shear-Wave Elastography Breast Ultrasound

The Women's Diagnostic Center in Silverdale recently added Shear-Wave elastography breast ultrasound.  This imaging performed during breast ultrasound is excellent when evaluating breast lesions and selecting patients who need a biopsy.  This exam takes just 2 minutes, has no radiation and provides more information about the lesion.  It measures the firmness or resistance of the underlying tissue.  Firm areas, like cancers, tend to be very dense, firm and not very mobile.  Lesions also look different on elastrography than soft areas of the breast that are very compressible.

A real benefit of this technology is that it can help differentiate complex cysts from solid lesions.  Cancer generally appears larger on elastography.  The lesion is measured on 2D ultrasound and simulatneously measured with elastography.  The images are then compared.  In most cases, if it is cancer, the lesion will measure larger.  This technology is designed to reduce the number of patients undergoing unnecessary biopsies, as elastography gives more information.

Carotid Intima Media Test - CIMT

AMI offers a non-invasive ultrasound procedure to measure and monitor atherosclerosis, the underlying cause of heart attack and stroke.  A CIMT exam measures the thickness of the part of the artery wall associated with heart disease.  The exam is quick, painless and no preps are needed.  It can be done in Silverdale or Port Orchard.  The cost of the exam is $125 payable on the day of the exam as insurance does not cover this screening exam.

Ultrasound is used to diagnose a wide-range of conditions. This examination is used to check the development of babies, to see gallstones, blood clots in veins, aneurysms, uterine fibroids or hernias, and many other things. Ultrasound is available in both Port Orchard and Silverdale locations.

Ultrasound is used to diagnose a wide-range of conditions.  This examination is used to check the development of babies, see gallstones, blood clots in veins, aneurysms, uterine fibroids or hernias, and many other things.  This exam is available in both Port Orchard and Silverdale locations.

Ultrasound is a safe, efficient and non-invasive imaging procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of the body’s internal organs. As the sound waves enter the body, they produce echoes that are used to determine the shape, size, position or possible abnormalities of the particular organs being studied. These echoes are recorded and then displayed on a monitor as an image. These images are then stored digitally for a permanent record.

You will be asked to lie down on an examination table where a clear conducting gel will be applied to your skin in the area being studied. The gel is a sound conductor that helps generate better images. The transducer functions as the “camera” as it sends the sound waves into your body and records the echoes that come back.

Abdomen or gallbladder: Do not eat or drink after midnight before your exam. Oral medications may be taken with small sips of water.

Renal (kidneys): Come to exam with a full bladder.

Adult Pelvic and Obstetric: No preparation. This examination does not require a full bladder.

Hysterosonogram: No preparation necessary.

Additional studies: No preparation required unless otherwise directed.

Pediatric Pelvic: One hour before your appointment, drink 8 to 16 oz. of water. Do not empty bladder for one hour before exam.