Ultrasound

An ultrasound is a test that can help your provider determine if a mass is solid or filled with fluid. This test uses sound waves to produce images of internal organs. A transducer emits the sound waves and picks up the echoes as they bounce off the organs. A computer processes the pattern of echoes to produce an image that is displayed on a monitor. The echoes from most tumors differ from those of normal tissue. These patterns of echoes also can help distinguish some types of benign and malignant tumors from one another.

When you have an ultrasound exam, you usually lie on a table while a technician moves the transducer over the part of your body being examined. Usually, the skin is first lubricated. The pattern of echoes reflected by tissues can be useful in identifying fluid, benign masses, and cancers. Further tests and procedures will likely be needed to confirm the diagnosis.