Ultrasound (Sonography / USG)

Ultrasound (sonography) is a non-invasive, painless imaging method that uses high-frequency sound waves rather than radiation to look inside the body in real time. It is used to assess soft tissues and organs — the breast, thyroid, liver, spleen, muscles and blood vessels — and can show movement such as blood flow. The MEDIAG department at 1. poliklinika Karlovy Vary runs three ultrasound workstations equipped with Toshiba Aplio and Siemens Acuson Antares systems, operated by physicians with long experience in soft-tissue scanning. Because no ionising radiation is involved, ultrasound is safe to repeat and suitable in pregnancy. The result is usually discussed with you immediately after the scan, and a report is sent to your referring doctor.

Ultrasound, also called sonography or USG, builds a live image of soft tissue by sending high-frequency sound waves into the body and measuring the echoes that bounce back from different structures. Because it uses sound rather than X-rays, it involves no ionising radiation, is painless, and can be repeated as often as needed — making it a workhorse for assessing the breast, thyroid, abdominal organs (liver, spleen, kidneys), muscles, and blood vessels, where Doppler mode can show the direction and speed of blood flow. At the MEDIAG radiodiagnostics department inside 1. poliklinika Karlovy Vary the service runs on three workstations using Toshiba Aplio and Siemens Acuson Antares machines, read by physicians with long experience in soft-tissue and vascular imaging. During the exam you lie on a couch, the radiologist applies a water-based gel to the skin so the probe makes good contact, and moves the transducer over the area while watching the images on screen; most scans take around ten to twenty minutes depending on the region. Preparation depends on what is being scanned and is explained when you book — for example, some abdominal scans require fasting, while many scans need none. The department notes two practical points: a scan cannot be performed over a bandage or plaster cast, and any ointment or cream on the skin must be wiped off beforehand. For breast ultrasound there is a dedicated booking line (+420 353 112 206). Who benefits: anyone needing evaluation of a breast lump or thyroid nodule, abdominal-organ assessment, muscle or soft-tissue injury, or a vascular study. Acute cases may be scanned without an appointment if the referring doctor indicates urgency. The result is typically handed to you right after the scan and a written report goes to your referring specialist. In the Czech system this is an insurance-covered procedure on a doctor's referral; visitors and self-pay patients should call ahead for a price and to confirm referral requirements.