An ultrasound scan uses sound waves to give a picture of the inside of your body. A small sensor, known as an ultrasound probe, is moved over your skin to look at your internal organs from different angles and the pictures are shown on a screen. Ultrasound scans are used to look at many different parts of the body including the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, pelvic organs and joints. They can also be used to look at blood flow and to check for any thin, or blocked blood vessels.

Yes, there are no known risks related to an ultrasound scan.

An ultrasound scan can give information that leads to, or helps make a diagnosis about your medical condition. An ultrasound can also be used to monitor an existing condition. It will be your doctor or other health professional who decides that you might benefit from having an ultrasound scan.

CT stands for Computerised Tomography. A CT scan takes a series of pictures of your body using x-rays. The pictures show cross-sections or slices of your body. They are put together by a computer and can be viewed on a screen. The scan shows a very detailed image of the inside of your body.

A CT scan can help your doctor to find the cause of your problem and the best treatment options for you.

You will receive a small amount of radiation during your CT scan. The amount of radiation you receive depends on which area of the body you are having scanned. The radiation related risks are very small compared to the risk of missing a serious problem if you choose not to have the CT scan.

An X-Ray is a test which is used to produce images of tissues, bones and organs. IS IT SAFE? There are risks associated with X-Rays, but a standard test uses such a small amount of radiation that this risk is very small.

MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. An MRI scanner uses a combination of a strong magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed picture of the inside of your body.

Yes, the examination is completely non-invasive, no known side-effects and does not involve radiation, although you should make sure you check our checklist in ‘What do I need to do before the scan?’