Thoracic Ultrasound Lab

Thoracic ultrasound lab studies provide valuable imagery that aids in the diagnosis of cardiac and pulmonary conditions. At East Bay Cardiovascular and Thoracic Associates, our thoracic ultrasound lab in Danville has helped us accurately diagnose many patients. It has also helped us empower these patients to get the specialized treatment and care that they need. 

What Is a Thoracic Ultrasound?

Thoracic ultrasound is also known as a lung ultrasound or chest sonography. During this diagnostic procedure, high-frequency sound waves create pictures of your chest cavity. This procedure can be used to take pictures of your lungs, heart, esophagus, thymus, lymph nodes, the interior wall of your chest, and more. With these thoracic ultrasound images, our board-certified surgeons can assess pulmonary and cardiac health. 

Do I Need a Thoracic Ultrasound?

In order to determine if a thoracic ultrasound is right for you, our specialists will perform an examination and then speak with you about your medical history, symptoms, and concerns. If you have these symptoms, we may recommend a thoracic ultrasound:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Shallow breathing
• Rapid breathing
• Tightness of the chest
• Wheezing
• Coughing

In some cases, we may recommend additional tests along with a thoracic ultrasound. These tests may include x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or computerized tomography (CT) scan.

Courteous, patient and caring

“This was my first visit with Dr Gottlieb. He spent a long time with me going over my past records, took me through my CT scans slide by slide, went over my diet, and thoroughly explained my condition and options to me. I have never been to a physician so courteous, patient and caring. I strongly recommend Dr. Gottlieb to anyone. He was simply fantastic.”

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What Are the Advantages of a Thoracic Ultrasound?

Thoracic ultrasound lab studies have some advantages over other diagnostics used to evaluate the chest area:

• Non-invasive
• Painless
• Outpatient procedure
• Real-time results
• No need to ingest contrast dye
• No anesthesia or sedation necessary
• Safe for pregnant women

What Happens at a Thoracic Ultrasound Appointment?

We will customize your procedure to meet your needs. Our team will explain any special instructions before the date of your ultrasound appointment. Most appointments involve the following steps:

1. We may ask you to remove any clothing or other items that would interfere with the ultrasound.
2. Our specialist will explain how you need to lay or sit on the exam table in order to get the best images. Our specialist may also have you change positions throughout the procedure.
3. We will apply a layer of gel to the skin over the area being examined; because of this, the wand-shaped transducer can easily glide across the area. The transducer then directs sound waves at the structures and organs in your chest. These waves are then reflected back to the transducer. After this, a computer then processes that information into images.
4. Once the computer has generated the images, the procedure is over.

The next step is for our specialist to analyze the images and then discuss the results with you. From there, our team will then work with you to develop a treatment plan that meets your needs. At this time, we will also discuss recovery and aftercare with you.

Thoracic Ultrasound Cost

The total cost of a Thoracic Ultrasound is determined based on factors like additional medical examinations and hospital charges. Please contact our office for more information.

Contact Us to Schedule a Thoracic Ultrasound Consultation

At East Bay Cardiovascular and Thoracic Associates, we have used our thoracic ultrasound lab in Danville to diagnose and treat countless patients. If you are experiencing cardiovascular or pulmonary illness, please contact us to schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified specialists.

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