Abdominal Wall Scan

Abdominal wall ultrasound examines the outer tissue layers of the abdomen. This wall consists of structures that support, enclose and safeguard inner organs. It is composed of muscles and connective tissues, including the rectus abdominis (commonly known as the six-pack muscles). This scan aids in identifying any issues or irregularities in these tissues.

What Can an Abdominal Wall Scan Detect?

Our experts at Sonoclinic often use abdominal wall scans to identify various conditions, including:

• Lumps, bulges, or swelling beneath the skin, such as lipomas, cysts, or tumours.
• Diastasis recti (divarication) – a condition where stomach muscles separate, causing the abdomen to protrude due to increased space between the left and right muscles.
• Different types of abdominal hernias like epigastric, umbilical, incisional and spigelian hernias.
• Signs of inflammation beneath the skin
• Fluid accumulation under the skin
• Haematomas
• Soft tissue infections
• Muscle and tissue anomalies
• Foreign bodies in the abdominal wall
• Mass classification (cystic, solid, or mixed)
• Post-surgical complications, such as abscesses or fluid build-up

Additionally, this scan may be performed before certain surgical procedures, such as a tummy tuck.

Procedure Details

An abdominal wall scan is a painless, non-invasive imaging method that utilises high-frequency sound waves to produce detailed visuals of muscles, soft tissues and any abnormalities within the abdominal wall.

During the procedure, you will need to expose the area being examined, so we recommend wearing loose-fitting clothing. A small amount of ultrasound gel will be applied to your skin to aid in image clarity and a handheld ultrasound probe will then be placed on the skin and moved around the area. This produces images for clinical interpretation that are shown on an ultrasound monitor.

The scan is painless, and usually takes ten to fifteen minutes. After finishing, you will get a comprehensive report outlining the results and any recommendations for any action that may be required.