Are there risks to an ultrasound?

People weighing a vascular scan often mix up two risks: the risk of the scan and the risk of the condition it looks for. This page keeps them apart and takes the first one.

The scan itself

medlineplus.gov states: "Ultrasound has not been linked to any health harms. It's generally considered safe when trained sonographers use it correctly."

The condition is worded with a qualifier. Safety is tied to trained sonographers using the test correctly.

The risk that sends people to the scan

The conditions that lead to a vascular ultrasound are a different matter. The NHLBI diagnosis page for venous thromboembolism and the NHLBI diagnosis page for peripheral artery disease describe how those conditions are identified. Read them as a statement about the condition, not about the scan.

The follow-up question

Once the safety question is settled, the next one is usually practical: what happens before the scan. Residents of Tinley Park and nearby Orland Park, Mokena, New Lenox and Frankfort can ask the scheduling office who performs the exam.