Soft Tissue Ultrasounds: Uses, Benefits, & What to Expect

Key Insights

• A soft tissue ultrasound examines muscles, tendons, ligaments, and skin to identify swelling, cysts, or injuries.

• The scan uses high-frequency sound waves to produce real-time images of soft tissue structures.

• Providers rely on this imaging to differentiate between fluid-filled and solid masses, detect inflammation, or assess trauma.

• Soft tissue ultrasounds support treatment planning, post-injury monitoring, or guided procedures such as biopsies.

When pain, swelling, or an unexplained lump appears under the skin, it can be difficult to tell what’s happening beneath the surface. A soft tissue ultrasound offers a fast, noninvasive way to visualize what’s going on. Using sound waves instead of radiation, this test helps healthcare providers assess muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues for injury or abnormalities. 

At Nola Diagnostic Ultrasound in Metairie, this targeted ultrasound delivers the detail your provider needs to diagnose and treat soft tissue concerns with precision.

What Is a Soft Tissue Ultrasound?

A soft tissue ultrasound is a diagnostic imaging test that evaluates the soft tissues of the body, including muscles, tendons, ligaments, and the layers beneath the skin. It’s often recommended when your provider needs to examine pain, swelling, or a palpable mass that isn’t visible from the outside.

Unlike X-rays or CT scans, ultrasound doesn’t use ionizing radiation. Instead, it uses high-frequency sound waves to create detailed, real-time images that show both structure and motion. This makes it especially useful for examining dynamic issues, such as muscle strain or tendon injury, as they move and respond to pressure during the exam.

Why Your Provider May Recommend a Soft Tissue Ultrasound

Because soft tissues play such an important role in movement and stability, even small injuries or changes can cause discomfort or limit your mobility. Our soft tissue ultrasounds in Metairie can help uncover what’s happening beneath the surface and guide the next steps in your care.

Common reasons for this test include:

• Detecting fluid collections from infection or inflammation

• Identifying cysts, lipomas, or benign lumps under the skin

• Evaluating muscle, tendon, or ligament injuries

• Locating hematomas (localized bleeding) after trauma

• Assessing abscesses, nodules, or foreign bodies

• Monitoring post-surgical healing or soft tissue recovery

  
  

By distinguishing between fluid-filled and solid masses, your provider can determine whether an area needs additional testing, drainage, or a follow-up procedure.

What to Expect During the Exam

Soft tissue ultrasounds are simple, quick, and completely noninvasive. After checking in, you’ll be positioned comfortably on the exam table, and a small amount of warm gel will be applied to the area being evaluated.

Your technologist will move a handheld device called a transducer over the area. This transducer sends out sound waves that reflect off internal structures, creating images displayed instantly on a monitor. The technologist may adjust your position or apply gentle pressure to obtain the best view of the tissue.

The procedure typically takes 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the area being examined. There’s no recovery time, and you can resume normal activity immediately afterward.

How Ultrasound Results Help Guide Care

Once your exam is complete, the images are reviewed by a radiologist, who provides a report within 24-48 hours to your referring provider. These results can help:

• Confirm or rule out suspected soft tissue conditions

• Identify whether swelling is due to fluid, infection, or injury

• Monitor treatment progress or post-surgical healing

• Determine whether a biopsy or follow-up imaging is necessary

  
  

Because ultrasound imaging provides a real-time view of soft tissue, it’s also used to guide needle-based procedures, such as aspirations or injections, ensuring accuracy and reducing the risk of complications.

Benefits of a Soft Tissue Ultrasound

Soft tissue ultrasounds offer several advantages compared to other imaging methods:

• Safe and radiation-free: Uses sound waves instead of ionizing radiation.

• Real-time imaging: Allows providers to observe movement, blood flow, and tissue response.

• Accessible and fast: Appointments are often available quickly, and results are typically delivered to providers within a short time.

• High accuracy for soft tissues: Especially useful for identifying fluid buildup, infections, and minor injuries that may not appear on X-rays.

• Comfortable for patients: The exam is painless, with no needles or contrast dye required.

  
  

These features make ultrasound a preferred first step for evaluating soft tissue concerns before considering more invasive or costly tests.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of conditions can a soft tissue ultrasound detect?

Soft tissue ultrasounds are often used to evaluate lumps, swelling, or pain caused by issues such as tendon tears, fluid buildup, cysts, lipomas, or abscesses. They also help identify localized infections, hematomas, or inflammation that may affect movement or comfort. In many cases, this test helps providers distinguish between benign growths and areas that may need closer medical attention.

What’s the difference between a soft tissue ultrasound and an MRI?

While both tests examine muscles and connective tissues, they use different imaging methods. Ultrasound relies on sound waves to create live images of soft tissues and is ideal for spotting fluid collections or surface-level injuries. MRI uses magnetic fields to visualize deeper structures and is often used when a more detailed, three-dimensional view is required. 

Who interprets a soft tissue ultrasound?

Your ultrasound images are reviewed by a board-certified radiologist who specializes in diagnostic imaging. They analyze the appearance of muscles, ligaments, and other soft tissues, then create a report for your provider. This ensures your care team receives the most accurate information to make informed decisions about diagnosis and treatment.

Schedule Your Soft Tissue Ultrasound in Metairie

At Nola Diagnostic Ultrasound, we make it easy to get the clarity your provider needs without long wait times or complicated scheduling. Our Metairie clinic offers flexible appointments, including evening hours, so you can plan your visit around your routine. After your provider gives you an order, simply book your scan, complete our intake form, and choose the time that works best for you. 

From start to finish, our team will ensure your soft tissue ultrasound is handled promptly, comfortably, and with the precision you can trust.