Ultrasound referral in Patong

Some problems cannot be sorted out with an examination and a blood test alone. When the question is what is happening inside your abdomen, an ultrasound referral in Patong gives a clear answer without radiation and without anything invasive. We arrange it from our clinic on Prachanukroh Road, usually within the same week and often the same day.

What ultrasound is good at

Ultrasound uses sound waves to build a live picture of the soft structures inside you. It is very good at looking at the gallbladder, liver, kidneys, bladder, pancreas, spleen, ovaries and uterus, and at pregnancy. It also shows fluid collections, cysts and swollen lymph nodes, and it is used to look at soft tissue lumps and some tendon and muscle injuries.

What it does not do is see bone or lung tissue well. If the question is a possible fracture, an X-ray is the right test, and we will say so rather than sending you for the wrong scan.

Why we refer people for ultrasound

The most common reason is abdominal pain that needs explaining. Pain in the upper right side after fatty food, with nausea, points towards gallstones, and ultrasound is the test that confirms it. Gallstone attacks catch a lot of visitors out here, where the food is rich and unfamiliar.

Pain in the side or lower back with blood in the urine raises the question of kidney stones. Lower abdominal pain in women may need the ovaries and uterus looked at. Persistent bloating, unexplained weight loss or abnormal liver blood tests are all reasons to look properly rather than guess.

Ruling out the serious causes

This is the part that matters most in a place like Patong, where it is easy to assume every stomach problem is something you ate. Appendicitis, gallbladder infection, kidney stones and ectopic pregnancy all begin with abdominal pain and can be mistaken for food poisoning in the first hours.

The doctor examines you first and decides whether the pattern of pain justifies imaging. When it does, we would far rather send you for a scan and find nothing than send you back to your hotel with the wrong reassurance.

How to prepare

It depends what is being scanned. For gallbladder and upper abdomen, you need to fast for around six to eight hours, because a gallbladder that has just emptied after a meal is much harder to assess. For pelvic scans you may be asked to arrive with a full bladder, which improves the view.

We tell you exactly what your scan needs when we write the referral, so you do not turn up and get sent away.

What the scan is like

You lie on a couch, gel goes on the skin, and a probe is moved over the area. It is painless, apart from mild pressure if the area is already tender, and takes fifteen to thirty minutes. There is no radiation, which is why it is the preferred test in pregnancy.

Getting your results explained

You come back to us with the images and the radiologist’s report, and the doctor goes through it with you in plain language. If treatment is needed we start it. If a specialist or surgery is required, we refer you with the imaging already done, which saves both time and repeated cost.

Common questions about ultrasound referrals in Patong

How quickly can I get scanned?

Often the same day, and usually within the same week for non-urgent scans.

How much does an ultrasound cost in Patong?

The imaging centre charges by scan type. Message us with your symptoms and we will explain the likely scan and cost.

Is it safe in pregnancy?

Yes. Ultrasound uses sound waves rather than radiation and is the standard scan in pregnancy.

Do I need a referral?

It is far better to have one. It tells the radiologist what to look for, which makes the report useful instead of general.

Will insurance cover it?

Usually when medically needed. We supply the doctor’s report and itemised receipts for your claim.