Ultrasound is a painless examination that uses high frequency sound waves sent through the skin into the body with a transducer or wand to obtain images of organs and blood vessels. These sound waves are then bounced back off various internal body structures and are converted into images on a video monitor.

Ultrasound can be used to distinguish between a solid mass or a fluid filled cyst. It is also used to check blood flow, or lack of it, in areas like the carotid arteries or leg blood vessels. Ultrasound can also give information of the size, age, and position of the developing fetus during pregnancy. Different from most imaging exams, no radiation is used in Ultrasound.

The Siemens Company manufactures the sophisticated Acuson Sequoia Ultrasound equipment used at Kern Radiology.