Ultrasound Campaign

In 1998-99 The Health Foundation made its first significant purchase; a state-of-the-art colour Doppler ultrasound machine at a cost of $204,000. The ultrasound machine allowed the expansion of diagnostic services for the residents of east central Saskatchewan. It provided for an additional 3,000 exams per year, consisting of high quality fine detail imaging.

Our ultrasound machines are currently used for the following diagnostic tests:

• Ultrasound examination of the abdomen for acute and chronic disorders; for example gallstones, kidney stones, renal failure, diagnosis of appendicitis, diagnosis of pancreatic, liver and other abdominal cancers;
• Acute and chronic pelvic conditions including detection of ovarian cysts and masses (ovarian cancer), diagnosis or uterine fibroids, detection of ectopic pregnancy;
• Pregnancy ultrasound for the early detection of pregnancy and the complications of early pregnancy, evaluation of the fetus for assessment of fetal anatomy and fetal well being including the diagnosis of intrauterine growth retardation;
• Detection of fluid on the lung (pleural effusion);
• Examination of babies’ skulls for detection of hydrocephalus and intracranial bleeding;
• Small parts ultrasound for thyroid, salivary glands, lymph nodes in head and neck, breast cysts and cancer, testicular swellings and cancer, diagnosis of prostate cancer;
• Detection of blood clot in legs.

Our ultrasound machines are also heavily used for ultrasound-guided procedures such as:

• To perform biopsies of swellings in areas like the thyroid, salivary glands, neck, breast and prostate;
• To find fluid in the chest (around the lung) and to determine the best place to drain the fluid;
• Diagnosis of breast cancer. Often patients who have had screening mammograms are referred for an ultrasound and, if the lump or nodule is visible on ultrasound, staff is able to perform an ultrasound-guided biopsy and provide the patient's physician and surgeon with an exact diagnosis before the patient is operated on for breast cancer;
• Ultrasound is also used for draining abscesses and for placing drainage catheters in abscess cavities, which, in many cases, makes surgical intervention unnecessary.