Ultrasound imaging is a valuable diagnostic tool for evaluating the body's internal organs and assessing lumps and bumps close to the surface. It’s easy to book a private ultrasound scan online, and get answers about your health quickly.

Ultrasound is safe, non-invasive, and widely available, providing real-time images that aid in diagnosis and treatment planning.

There are a huge variety of different ultrasound scans for different parts of the body, but this guide will focus on what general ultrasound scans can show and how ultrasound is used for lumps and bumps around the body.

Ultrasound imaging is a valuable diagnostic tool for evaluating the body's internal organs and assessing lumps and bumps close to the surface. It’s easy to book a private ultrasound scan online, and get answers about your health quickly.

Ultrasound is safe, non-invasive, and widely available, providing real-time images that aid in diagnosis and treatment planning.

General body ultrasound scans, and investigations of lumps and bumps, can be used for:

• Evaluation of Internal Organs: Ultrasound can be used to visualise and evaluate the structure and function of various internal organs, including the liver, kidneys, pancreas, gallbladder, spleen, and reproductive organs.

• Assessment of Lumps and Bumps: Ultrasound imaging is particularly useful for evaluating lumps and bumps found on the surface of the body, such as in the breast, thyroid, lymph nodes, and soft tissues. This is because ultrasound is great at showing fluid-filled areas, such as a cyst, vs harder areas of tissue which could potentially be a tumor.

• Detection of Abnormalities: Ultrasound can detect abnormalities such as tumors, cysts, stones, and inflammation within the organs.

• Guidance for Procedures: Ultrasound is often used to guide procedures such as biopsies, fluid drainage, and injections, allowing for precise targeting of the affected area.

If you have found a lump, an ultrasound is usually a good first investigation to find out:

• What it is composed of - fluid, air, or tissue
• Where it is located
• How big it is

It’s unlikely that you’d get a confirmed diagnosis like cancer from an ultrasound scan alone. Instead, as ultrasound is widely available, pain-free, and safe, it provides answers that can help your healthcare professional decide which next steps would be beneficial, including:

• Minor treatment, such as draining a lump
• Further tests, such as an MRI scan or even a biopsy of the lump tissue, to find out whether or not it is something of concern
• Onward referral to a specialist for further care and investigations