What is an ultrasound? Ultrasound imaging, also called ultrasound scanning or sonography, involves exposing part of the body to high-frequency sound waves to produce pictures of the inside of the body. Because ultrasound images are captured in real-time, they can show the structure and movement of the body's internal organs, as well as blood flowing through blood vessels.

Ultrasound is used to help diagnose a variety of conditions, such as:

  • abdominal pain

  • pancreatitis

  • enlarged abdominal organ

  • stones in the kidney or bladder

  • neoplasia