Generality
Pelvic ultrasound is an examination used in diagnostic imaging, which allows the study of the organs and other structures present in the lower abdominal area:
- Bladder and terminal portions of the intestine (rectum and sigmoid);
- Prostate, vas deferens and seminal vesicles in man;
- Uterus, vagina, fallopian tubes, cervix and ovaries in women.
To carry out the pelvic ultrasound, a probe is used which is placed on the skin surface, in correspondence with the anatomical area to be analyzed. With the help of a transparent gel, this device is slipped by the operator. The reflected signal is picked up by the probe, which simultaneously sends the acquired information to a computer. These are displayed in the form of images on a monitor placed in the immediate vicinity of the workstation where the doctor works.
In the oncology field, pelvic ultrasound is a widely used examination, since the tumor tissue usually has a different density than the healthy one. In this context, this investigation can provide a lot of information about the size, position and structure of the pelvic masses. However, pelvic ultrasound generally does not allow a definitive diagnosis of cancer to be made, for which specific and targeted clinical investigations are required.
What's this
Pelvic ultrasound is a simple and harmless investigation, which is based on the emission and reception of ultrasounds. This allows us to evaluate the size and shape of many internal organs, such as ovaries and prostate, and the abnormal areas inside. of them, such as cysts and some tumors.
Pelvic ultrasound does not involve the use of ionizing radiation (or the injection of radioactive substances).
