ULTRASOUND SERVICES In Honolulu

What is ​U​ltrasound?

Ultrasound is a noninvasive imaging test that ​allows Doctors of Waikiki to “see” details of soft tissues inside your body without making any incisions (cuts). ​Unlike X-rays, ultrasound doesn’t use radiation​ instead the technology ​uses high-frequency sound waves to create real-time pictures or videos of internal organs or other soft tissues, such as blood vessels.

Most people associate ultrasound with pregnancy, but healthcare providers use this technology for different situations and to ​"​see​"​ different parts of the body.

Main Categories of Ultrasound Imaging

• Diagnostic ultrasound

• Ultrasound guidance for procedures

D​iagnostic Ultrasound

At Doctors of Waikiki we perform diagnostic ultrasounds to view internal parts of the body and to see if something is wrong or not working properly. This technology can help us learn more about what’s causing a wide range of symptoms, such as unexplained pain, masses (lumps) or what may be causing an abnormal blood test.

Examples of diagnostic ultrasounds include:

• Abdominal ultrasound: An ultrasound probe moves across the skin of your midsection (belly) area. Abdominal ultrasound can diagnose many causes of abdominal pain.

• Kidney (renal) ultrasound: Providers use kidney ultrasound to assess the size, location and shape of your kidneys and related structures, such as your ureters and bladder. Ultrasound can detect cysts, tumors, obstructions or infections within or around your kidneys.

• Breast ultrasound: A breast ultrasound is a noninvasive test to identify breast lumps and cysts. Your provider may recommend an ultrasound after an abnormal mammogram.

• Pelvic ultrasound: A pelvic ultrasound looks at the organs in your pelvic area between your lower abdomen (belly) and legs. Some of the pelvic organs include your bladder, prostate, rectum, ovaries, uterus and vagina.

• Thyroid ultrasound: Providers use ultrasound to assess your thyroid, a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland in your neck. Providers can measure the size of your thyroid and see if there are nodules or lesions within the gland.

Ultrasound Guidance for Procedures

Healthcare providers may use ultrasound to perform certain procedures precisely. A common use of ultrasound is to guide needle placement to sample fluid or tissue from:

• Tendons

• Joints

• Muscles

• Cysts or fluid collections

• Soft-tissue masses

• Organs (liver, kidney or prostate)

• Transplant organs (liver, kidney or pancreas)

ORTHOPEDICS HAWAII

At Orthopedics Hawaii (next door), an orthopedic surgeon can use ultrasound imaging to see the bone, ligaments, tendons, and nerves in real-time. Ultrasound guided procedures such as Carpal Tunnel release and Trigger Digit release are possible in the office with only local anesthetic.

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Sam Chen is the only person in Hawaii performing this procedure. Local anesthetic is used to numb the area and the procedure takes several minutes. Only a small incision is required without stitches. An Ultrasound guided Carpal Tunnel procedure allows return to normal activity in days, not weeks.

Please find out more about this procedure by contacting Orthopedics Hawaii.

Source: Cleveland Clinic (Last Reviewed 2022, April 12) Ultrasound https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/4995-ultrasound

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