What Are Ultrasound-Guided Procedures?
Ultrasound-guided procedures use real-time ultrasound imaging to accurately guide needles to the precise area requiring treatment or biopsy. By allowing the radiologist to see the target throughout the procedure, ultrasound guidance improves accuracy while avoiding nearby nerves, blood vessels and other important structures.
At IMPACT Radiology, all procedures are performed by specialist radiologists with extensive experience in image-guided interventions. Every procedure begins with a detailed ultrasound assessment to identify the exact structure responsible for your symptoms, ensuring treatment is directed where it is most likely to be effective.
Procedures We Commonly Perform
Therapeutic Injections
Corticosteroid Injections
Used to reduce inflammation and relieve pain associated with:
- Arthritis
- Bursitis
- Tendinopathy
- Tenosynovitis
- Joint inflammation
- Nerve entrapment
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
A regenerative treatment that uses your own blood platelets to promote tissue healing and recovery.
Commonly performed for:
- Tendon injuries
- Chronic tendinopathy
- Ligament injuries
- Plantar fasciitis
- Osteoarthritis
- Selected muscle injuries
Hyaluronic Acid (Joint Lubrication) Injections
Used primarily for osteoarthritis to improve joint lubrication and reduce pain.
Commonly performed in:
- Knee
- Hip
- Shoulder
- Other selected joints
Diagnostic Procedures
Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA)
Fine needles are used to acquire targeted cells. These are prepared on slides by IMPACT Radiology and sent to Launceston Pathology for testing.
Performed to obtain cells from:
- Thyroid nodules
- Lymph nodes
- Salivary glands
- Soft-tissue masses
Core Biopsy
Core biopsies are performed using Tru-Cut needles. These needles acquire cylindrical samples of the targeted lesion, which are sent to pathology in formalin and/or normal saline sample containers.
Performed to obtain a tissue sample from:
- Breast lesions
- Soft-tissue masses
- Lymph nodes
- Selected superficial lesions
Other Procedures
- Abscess aspiration and drainage
- Seroma aspiration
- Haematoma aspiration
- Fluid collections
- Marker clip insertion
- Foreign-body localisation
- Ascitic tap
- Pleural tap
Why Might My Doctor Request This Procedure?
Your doctor may recommend an ultrasound-guided procedure if you require:
- Relief of joint or tendon pain
- Treatment of inflammation
- PRP therapy
- Joint lubrication injections
- Drainage of fluid collections
- Investigation of a lump
- Biopsy of a suspicious lesion
- Aspiration of a cyst or abscess
- Image-guided treatment following ultrasound assessment
Preparation
Preparation varies depending on the procedure.
You may be asked to:
- Continue or temporarily stop certain blood-thinning medications (only after discussion with your referring doctor)
- Wear comfortable clothing
- Eat and drink normally for most procedures unless instructed otherwise
- Arrange for someone to drive you home after the procedure
Specific preparation instructions will be provided when your appointment is booked.
What Happens During the Procedure?
Before your procedure, our radiologist will review your referral, correlate your symptoms and explain the procedure, including its potential benefits and risks.
A detailed diagnostic ultrasound examination would have been performed on a prior appointment to identify the precise target. The skin is then cleaned using sterile technique, and local anaesthetic may be administered depending on the procedure.
Using continuous real-time ultrasound guidance, the radiologist accurately positions the needle while avoiding surrounding nerves, blood vessels and other important structures.
Following the procedure, you advised not to drive .
Most ultrasound-guided procedures take 20–45 minutes, depending on the complexity of the treatment.
