Ultrasound is a radiologic technique commonly used to reveal internal structures. It is best used to illuminate soft tissue. Abdominal ultrasound has a variety of advantages over other imaging techniques: no radiation is involved, the procedure is relatively fast and noninvasive and it can provide images of organs over time.
Step 1
Look at the overview. First examine an image of the abdomen as a whole while the patient is lying down on his or her back.
Step 2
Compare the overview to normal anatomy. Look for the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver and intestines, as well as the kidneys and gall bladder (see Resources).
Step 3
Look at closeups of any organs of interest. These can be identified by symptoms (i.e. pain or other abnormalities) or by them appearing abnormal on the overview scan.
Step 4
Assess both the structures and their location. According to the London South Bank University, location and orientation of structures is just as important as the dimensions of a structure.
Step 5
Attend the scan in person. If there is any doubt or uncertainty resulting from still images, request an additional scan and be present for it. Ultrasound is a dynamic measurement, meaning that it can visualize structures over time. Still scans might make abnormalities appear normal and vice-versa.
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