Ultrasound
Abdominal, OB (under 14 weeks), pelvic, vascular, small parts.
What an ultrasound is
Ultrasound (sonography) uses high-frequency sound waves — the same principle as sonar — to create live, moving images of the inside of your body. There's no radiation, no needles for most exams, and nothing to recover from. A handheld device called a transducer sends sound into the body and listens for the echoes, which a computer turns into a real-time picture. A mode called Doppler lets us see and hear blood moving through vessels.
Standard diagnostic ultrasound has no known harmful effects, which is why it's the preferred way to image a pregnancy and a workhorse for soft-tissue and blood-flow questions throughout the body.
What we perform at Crown Valley
We perform diagnostic ultrasound at our Mission Viejo office, read by board-certified radiologists. Common studies include:
- Abdominal — liver, gallbladder, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, aorta
- Pelvic — bladder, uterus, ovaries
- Obstetric (pregnancy) — up to 14 weeks
- Thyroid and other "small parts"
- Vascular / Doppler — carotid arteries, aorta, and venous and arterial flow studies
Most exams take 20–45 minutes.
What we don't perform here
So you don't make a wasted trip, here are a few ultrasound studies we do not offer — please ask your physician to send these elsewhere:
- OB ultrasound at 14 weeks or beyond
- Musculoskeletal (MSK) ultrasound of the elbow, shoulder, or hip
- Pediatric ultrasound to rule out appendicitis
- Full prostate ultrasound (we do not use a transrectal/anal probe)
- Vascular-insufficiency studies that require a blood-pressure cuff
What to expect
Before — prep depends on the exam:
- Abdomen / gallbladder / right-upper-quadrant: fast for 6 hours, and no coffee — even a small amount can make gallstones impossible to see.
- Pelvic / OB (under 14 weeks): arrive with a full bladder — don't urinate for 1 hour before your exam.
- Aorta, carotid, thyroid, venous, arterial: no prep at all.
Your exam's exact prep is in our prep library, word-for-word what our schedulers send.
During. You lie on a table while the sonographer applies a warm water-based gel and glides the transducer over the area being studied. The gel helps the sound travel; it wipes off easily afterward. Most exams are completely painless. During a Doppler study you may hear a pulsing "whoosh" — that's your blood flow.
After. Wipe off, get dressed, and go — no downtime. Your radiologist reads the images and the signed report goes to your ordering physician — for routine exams, within 48 business hours. For your own copy, email medicalrecords@cvimaging.net.
Is it safe?
Yes — ultrasound uses sound waves, not radiation, and standard diagnostic ultrasound has no known harmful effects on the body. It's safe enough to be the standard for imaging during pregnancy.
What it costs
Self-pay ultrasound at Crown Valley starts at $379.50, quoted up front — no surprise bill to follow; request a Good Faith Estimate to get it in writing. If you're using insurance, we verify your eligibility and handle any pre-authorization. Your out-of-pocket cost depends on your plan's deductible and coverage — your insurer can confirm exactly what you'll owe.
Frequently asked questions
- No. It uses sound waves, and standard diagnostic ultrasound has no known harmful effects — it's the standard for imaging in pregnancy.
- Food (and even coffee) makes the gallbladder contract and can hide gallstones. Fasting 6 hours gives a clear picture.
- A full bladder lifts and "windows" the pelvic organs so they're easier to see. Drink up and don't urinate for an hour beforehand.
- No. You'll feel the transducer and some cool-to-warm gel, but the exam is painless. It takes about 20–45 minutes.
- We perform OB ultrasound up to 14 weeks. At 14 weeks or beyond, your physician will refer you to an OB imaging provider.
- No — we don't offer MSK ultrasound of the elbow, shoulder, or hip. An MRI is often the better tool for those; ask your physician.
- Your report goes to your ordering physician after our radiologist signs it — for routine exams, within 48 business hours. For your own copy: medicalrecords@cvimaging.net.