In brief
Abdominal ultrasound is the most frequently requested examination in this area: quick, safe and radiation-free. But it also has clear limits, and it is better to know about them in advance.
The doctor assesses the liver and its vessels, the gallbladder and bile ducts, the pancreas, the spleen, the kidneys and retroperitoneum, and the large vessels — the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava. Enlarged lymph nodes and free fluid are noted.
If organs are obscured by gas, ultrasound is powerless — which is why preparation matters so much. At the same time, the bowel can be examined with ultrasound: bowel ultrasound is an integral part of modern gastroenterology. It is indispensable for assessing inflammatory changes in the bowel and for diagnosing appendicitis, diverticulitis and large bowel tumours.
Abdominal ultrasound does not replace endoscopy: it will not show an ulcer, gastritis or small bowel polyps. The pancreas is only partly visible when there is marked bloating and in patients with a high body weight — it lies deep beneath the body surface. Normal adrenal glands are difficult to assess in adults: they are hard to distinguish, especially the left one. Most liver lesions, apart from typical ones, need clarification with another method.
So ultrasound cannot "check everything": a report stating "no abnormality detected" applies only to what was accessible to the examination.
The main obstacle is bowel gas. The scan is done on an empty stomach: 6–8 hours without food; for a morning appointment it is enough to skip breakfast. The day before, it is worth limiting foods that increase gas. Drinking water is fine. More detail in our guide to preparing for an ultrasound.
Previous reports and images. Change over time is more informative than a single picture: a stable cyst that has not changed in two years and a newly appeared lesion of the same size are different clinical situations.
At GMS ultrasound of the abdominal organs and retroperitoneum is AED 1,200. It is performed by a diagnostic ultrasound specialist, PhD; the findings are explained during the appointment and the report is issued in English.
The liver and its vessels, the gallbladder and bile ducts, the pancreas, the spleen, the kidneys and retroperitoneum, and the large vessels — the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava. Enlarged lymph nodes and free fluid are also noted. At GMS the scan costs AED 1,200.
It will not show an ulcer, gastritis or small bowel polyps — for those it does not replace endoscopy. The bowel itself can be examined, though: ultrasound is indispensable for assessing inflammatory bowel changes and diagnosing appendicitis, diverticulitis and large bowel tumours.
Come on an empty stomach: 6–8 hours without food; for a morning appointment it is enough to skip breakfast. The day before, limit foods that increase gas — bowel gas is the main obstacle to ultrasound. Drinking water is fine. Bring previous reports and images: change over time is more informative than a single picture.
This article is for information only and does not replace a consultation. If you have symptoms, see a doctor.
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