Ultrasound of the abdomen

Abdominal ultrasound uses the same sound-based technology used by depth finders on boats. Using a small device that looks like a microphone, called a transducer or probe, ultrasound waves are directed into the abdomen. These sound waves bounce back to the probe at different rates, depending upon the tissue encountered in their pathway. The returning sound waves are analyzed by a computer to generate detailed images of the organs in the abdomen. In patients with leukemia, ultrasound may be used to evaluate the condition of the spleen and other internal organs that may have been affected by the disease.

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No preparation is needed for an abdominal ultrasound. In this procedure, which usually takes one to two hours to complete, a technician applies a watery gel to the abdomen and then slides the transducer across the stomach to scan the abdomen from various angles. Most patients say the procedure is painless, although some report slight discomfort from the pressure of the transducer on the stomach. Abdominal ultrasound has no negative side effects and poses no known risk to the body.