Ultrasound of soft tissues

Reasons for performing a soft tissue ultrasound:
• To diagnose bruises, strains, and tears of muscles or ligaments.
• In cases of pain, swelling, or hardening in soft tissues.
• To detect cysts, hematomas, abscesses, lipomas, and other growths.
• To monitor the healing process after injuries or surgeries.
• When inflammatory processes are suspected.

What can be seen on an ultrasound:
• The structure and integrity of muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
• The presence of hematomas, cysts, fatty or other tumor formations.
• Inflammatory changes and fluid accumulation.
• The condition of subcutaneous tissue and lymph nodes.

When it is prescribed:
• In cases of injuries (suspected tears or strains).
• In the presence of hardenings or growths in soft tissues.
• In cases of pain or limited mobility of limbs.
• To monitor the dynamics of treatment and rehabilitation.

Preparation for the procedure:
• No special preparation is required. The examination can be conducted at any time.

How the procedure is conducted:
• The patient is positioned on a couch or seated, depending on the area being examined.
• A special gel is applied to the skin, and the doctor moves the transducer over the area being examined.
• The image of the tissues is displayed on the screen in real-time.
• The procedure lasts 10–15 minutes.

Features:
• Soft tissue ultrasound helps to identify pathologies that cannot be noticed during a regular examination.
• The method is widely used in traumatology, surgery, sports medicine, and oncology.