Why it's done

An abdominal ultrasound can help your doctor see many organs in your abdomen. Your doctor may recommend this test if you have a problem in any of these body areas:

• Blood vessels in the abdomen
• Gallbladder
• Intestines
• Kidneys
• Liver
• Pancreas
• Spleen

An abdominal ultrasound can help your doctor evaluate the cause of stomach pain or bloating. It can help check for kidney stones, liver disease, tumors and many other conditions.

Your doctor may recommend that you have an abdominal ultrasound if you're at risk of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. A one-time abdominal aortic ultrasound screening is recommended for men between the ages of 65 and 75 who have smoked at least 100 cigarettes during their lifetimes.

Routine screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms isn't recommended for women. Also, it's unclear if men who have never smoked may benefit from ultrasound screening for an abdominal aortic aneurysm.