Vascular Ultrasound vs. Regular Ultrasound — What’s the Difference?

Anytime your doctor orders a test or procedure you’re not familiar with, it may cause some anxiety. That may be the case with a vascular ultrasound. In this post, we look at how this procedure differs from a regular ultrasound.

Providers at all of our Heart & Vascular Institute locations in Michigan provide cardiovascular care. Often, that involves testing to assess the health of your heart and blood vessels. One such test is a vascular ultrasound, which actually comprises several diagnostic options. 

Ultrasound

Ultrasound, sometimes called sonography, is a technology that uses sound waves to produce images. You’re probably most familiar with ultrasounds used with pregnant women. 

High-frequency sound waves produced by a tool called a transducer can travel through your skin. They bounce off organs, tissues, or other structures. The sound waves return to the transducer, which converts them into visual images. 

Ultrasound technology can show a fetus or organs such as your liver or kidneys. Doctors often use ultrasounds to assess the health of the thyroid gland. 

Vascular ultrasound

A vascular ultrasound is a procedure that also uses sound wave technology to look at the health of your arteries and veins. Many conditions affect how well your blood moves through your vessels, and some can be serious. 

For example, plaque buildup in your arteries can narrow the space your blood moves through. That can stiffen your blood vessels so they don’t expand and contract as they should. 

Types of vascular ultrasound

Just as ultrasound is an umbrella term to describe sound wave technology to create images, vascular ultrasound describes several tests that assess the health of your vascular system.

Here are the types of vascular ultrasound testing we offer at Heart & Vascular Institute: 

Arterial testing ultrasound

We frequently recommend this test to people experiencing leg pain to see if it’s related to the blood flow in the arm or leg arteries. Peripheral artery disease can affect those arteries, leading to insufficient blood flow. The most common symptom is cramping in your calves. 

Peripheral venous ultrasound

We usually use this test to find out if you have a blood clot in your leg, known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT can be dangerous, so it’s crucial to determine whether you have a clot. 

Echocardiogram

An echocardiogram is a specialized type of ultrasound that assesses how blood flows through your heart. If you have heart palpitations, shortness of breath, or other symptoms, an echocardiogram may help your doctor understand why. 

Doppler ultrasound 

A Doppler ultrasound detects motion in your blood vessels. It can help your doctor identify the precise location of a blockage or how well blood flows to your organs. 

What to expect 

It may help to know that a vascular ultrasound, regardless of type, is noninvasive. The most uncomfortable part for most people is the gel we apply to help the transducer slide smoothly across your skin — and it wipes off easily. 

Before your vascular ultrasound, we’re happy to answer any questions you have. Schedule your appointment by phone or online today so we can make sure you’re comfortable with the test and understand why you’re having it.