Abdominal Aortic Ultrasound |  | 
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Abdominal aortic ultrasound is an imaging test that uses sound waves to form pictures of your abdominal aorta. Using a Doppler ultrasound, images are captured in real-time, so they can show the structure and movement of the body's internal organs, as well as blood flowing through blood vessels. Doppler ultrasound is a special ultrasound technique that evaluates blood as it flows through a blood vessel, including the body's major arteries and veins.
Ultrasound is used to help diagnose a variety of conditions, including:
- An aneurysm in the aorta
- Blockages to blood flow (such as clots)
- Narrowing of vessels (which may be caused by plaque)
Before the test
- Be sure to mention the medications you take and ask if it's okay to take them before your test
- Do not eat or drink for six (6) hours before the test. Note: If you eat or drink anything, your test may be canceled
During the procedure
Your test results Your doctor will discuss the test results with you during a follow-up visit or over the phone.
What are the benefits of ultrasound? Ultrasound has a number of benefits, including:
- It is usually noninvasive and painless
- It is widely available, easy-to-use and less expensive than other imaging methods
- It uses no ionizing radiation
- It provides a clear picture of soft tissues that do not show up well on X-ray images
- It causes no health problems and may be repeated as often as is necessary
- It provides real-time imaging, making it a good tool for guiding minimally invasive procedures such as needle biopsies and needle aspiration
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