Abdominal Ultrasounds

Abdominal ultrasounds can detect problems with any of your abdominal organs. At Cranford L. Scott MD, Inc, exemplary internal medicine specialist Cranford Scott, MD, provides comprehensive medical care for adults in the Inglewood, California, office. An abdominal ultrasound can help you find answers for symptoms and is also a valuable screening tool for abdominal aortic aneurysms. Book your appointment online or call the office to schedule your abdominal ultrasound now. 

What is an abdominal ultrasound?

An abdominal ultrasound is an ultrasound imaging test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the structures inside your abdomen. Abdominal ultrasounds are noninvasive tests and are available in the Cranford L. Scott, MD, Inc office. 

What problems do abdominal ultrasounds detect?

Abdominal ultrasounds evaluate and detect problems affecting any of the organs and structures within your abdomen, including:

• Liver
• Kidneys
• Pancreas
• Spleen
• Gallbladder
• Large intestine
• Small intestine
• Blood vessels

One of the primary purposes of abdominal ultrasounds is the detection of abdominal aortic aneurysm, an enlargement of the main artery in the body.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a potentially fatal condition because the bulge in the artery means the blood vessel is weak and at risk of rupture (bursting open) and hemorrhage (severe bleeding). 

Who should have an abdominal ultrasound for screening purposes?

About 9 in 10 people who develop an abdominal aortic aneurysm are current or previous smokers. Abdominal aortic aneurysms affect four times more men than women. So, screening recommendations are based on those known risk groups. 

For men who have a history of smoking, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends a one-time screening at age 65-75. If you’re a man who has never smoked but are in this age group, you could still need preventive screening based on Dr. Scott’s recommendations. 

The USPSTF recommends against routine abdominal ultrasound screening for women who have never smoked. If you’re a woman in this age group and have a history of smoking, speak to Dr. Scott about whether routine screening is right for you. 

How does an abdominal ultrasound work?

In an abdominal ultrasound, your ultrasound technician at Cranford L. Scott MD, Inc applies a conductive gel to your abdominal area. They move the handheld transducer over your belly, pressing gently to deliver ultrasound waves. 

Your internal organs and blood vessels reflect the waves to the transducer, and a computer translates the information into images. A radiologist specializing in imaging analyzes your results and discusses them with Dr. Scott. 

He may recommend watchful waiting, with regular screenings to monitor changes, or, in the case of an at-risk aneurysm, surgery. This test can also diagnose many other issues within your abdomen. 

Click the online scheduler or call Cranford L. Scott MD, Inc to make your appointment now.