Medically reviewed by Prof. Dr. Aamer Nadeem Chaudhary, M.B.B.S., D.M.R.D., F.C.P.S. (Diagnostic Radiology), Consultant, Al-Nasar Lab & Diagnostic Centre. Updated September 2026.
Quick answer: An abdominal ultrasound examines the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, pancreas, spleen, kidneys and major blood vessels using sound waves. There is no radiation and no injection. You must fast for 6 to 8 hours, because food empties the gallbladder and gas hides the pancreas. The scan takes 15 to 30 minutes.
Book an abdominal ultrasound: call 0300 0341944 or find your nearest location.
What does an abdominal ultrasound check?
| Organ | What the scan looks for |
|---|---|
| Liver | Fatty liver, enlargement, cirrhosis, cysts and masses |
| Gallbladder | Gallstones, wall thickening, inflammation. This is where ultrasound is at its very best |
| Bile ducts | Dilatation, which suggests a blockage such as a stone or a growth |
| Kidneys | Stones, swelling from obstruction, cysts, size and cortical thickness |
| Pancreas | Swelling, cysts and masses, although overlying bowel gas often limits the view |
| Spleen | Enlargement, which matters in liver disease and some blood disorders |
| Urinary bladder | Wall thickness, stones, and how much urine is left after passing water |
| Aorta | Widening, which is how an abdominal aortic aneurysm is screened for |
| Free fluid | Ascites, an important sign in liver and heart disease |
Why does fasting matter so much?
Patients often treat the fasting instruction as optional. It is not, and there are two specific reasons.
The gallbladder. After you eat, the gallbladder squeezes out its bile and collapses. A collapsed gallbladder is very difficult to assess, and small stones can be completely hidden inside its folded walls. After 6 to 8 hours without food it is full and distended, and stones stand out clearly. Scanning a fed patient for gallstones is close to a wasted appointment.
Bowel gas. Eating and drinking introduce gas into the stomach and bowel. Ultrasound cannot pass through gas, so anything behind it is invisible. The pancreas sits directly behind the stomach and is the first thing lost.
Plain water is normally allowed and sometimes encouraged, since a reasonably full bladder helps when the pelvis is also being examined. Follow the instruction you are given when booking.
What can an abdominal ultrasound not show?
Knowing the limits saves people from false reassurance.
- Kidney stones in the ureter. Ultrasound sees stones in the kidney and bladder well, but often misses those stuck in the tube between them. It can show the backing up that a stone causes. For the stone itself, CT KUB is definitive
- The stomach and bowel, which are full of gas and not well assessed this way
- Small pancreatic lesions, frequently obscured by gas. CT or MRI is used when the pancreas is the real question
- Early appendicitis in adults, which can be hard to visualise, particularly in larger patients
- Fine detail in a very obese abdomen, since sound waves weaken with depth
Ultrasound is the right first test for most abdominal questions. It is not always the last one.
Which symptoms should be scanned?
- Pain in the upper right abdomen, especially after fatty or fried food, which is the classic gallstone pattern
- Abnormal liver function tests
- Jaundice, meaning yellowing of the eyes or skin
- Abnormal kidney function or blood in the urine, alongside a kidney function test
- Unexplained abdominal swelling or a lump you can feel
- Persistent bloating or indigestion that has not settled
- Loin pain suggesting stones
- Suspected fatty liver, which is extremely common and closely linked with diabetes
- Unexplained weight loss or fever
- Follow up of a known cyst, stone or fatty liver
Fatty liver, the finding that comes up most
By far the most frequent abnormal result on abdominal ultrasound in Pakistan is a fatty liver, and it is worth understanding rather than dismissing.
The scan reports it by brightness. A fatty liver appears brighter than normal, and it is usually graded from mild to severe. On its own, mild fatty change causes no symptoms at all.
It matters because of what travels with it. Fatty liver is closely tied to insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and central weight gain. Finding it on a scan is genuinely useful information, because at the early stage it is one of the few findings that can be reversed through weight, diet and activity. Your doctor will usually check blood sugar and lipids alongside it.
How to prepare
- Fast for 6 to 8 hours. Nothing to eat. No milk, tea with milk, juice or fizzy drinks
- Plain water is allowed unless you are told otherwise, and helps if the bladder is being assessed
- Take your regular medicines with a sip of water unless your doctor says otherwise. Diabetic patients should ask specifically about their morning dose before fasting
- Avoid chewing gum and smoking beforehand, since both introduce air into the stomach
- A morning appointment is easiest, because the overnight fast does the work for you
- Wear loose clothing. Bring previous scans, blood tests and your referral
Warm gel is applied to the abdomen and a probe is moved firmly over it. You may be asked to take a deep breath and hold it, which brings the liver and gallbladder down into view, and to turn onto your side. It is painless, though pressure over a tender area can be briefly uncomfortable.
Abdominal ultrasound at Al-Nasar Lab
Al-Nasar Lab & Diagnostic Centre has served Lahore since 1996 and holds ISO 15189:2022 accreditation from the Pakistan National Accreditation Council. Abdominal ultrasound is performed and reported by consultant radiologists, with same day reporting in most cases.
Because abdominal symptoms often need blood work alongside the scan, liver function, kidney function and blood sugar can all be taken from the same fasting visit rather than requiring a second trip. Where the scan cannot answer the question, CT and MRI are available at our Johar Town campus.
See our ultrasound services, our Doppler ultrasound guide, or contact us to book.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours should I fast for an abdominal ultrasound?
Six to eight hours. Fasting keeps the gallbladder full so stones are visible, and reduces the bowel gas that hides the pancreas.
Can I drink water before an abdominal ultrasound?
Usually yes. Plain water is normally allowed and can help if the bladder or pelvis is being examined. Follow the instruction you were given when booking.
Can an abdominal ultrasound detect kidney stones?
It detects stones in the kidney and bladder well, but often misses stones lodged in the ureter. CT KUB is the definitive test when renal colic is suspected.
Does an abdominal ultrasound hurt?
No. The probe presses firmly on the abdomen, which can be briefly uncomfortable over a tender area, but the scan itself is painless and uses no radiation.
How long does it take?
Usually 15 to 30 minutes, depending on how many organs are being examined and how easily they can be seen.
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for medical advice. Please discuss your results with a qualified doctor.
