PureKids, Pureform Radiology's Pediatric arm, provides some of the most specialized community based pediatric imaging in Canada. Working with the same radiologists that work at the Alberta Children's Hospital, our team leverages a combination of patient care and medical expertise to deliver a comforting experience for every parent and child.
Children will be excited by our play area in every clinic waiting room. Children's TV programming and toys during exams, along with stickers and prizes at the end help keep their minds off the exam.
Parents can rest assured that our pediatric radiologists have both the hospital and clinical experience necessary to correctly interpret pediatric scans.
Please select your exam from the below options to find out more about the procedure and the preparation required for your exam.
A pediatric hip ultrasound looks for hip dysplasia or DDH. This term encompasses a wide range from an audible click to complete hip dislocation of the femoral head.
Pureform Procedure
Your baby will lay on the bed as the technologist moves each leg to get a good look at the hip. After the tech is done scanning, he or she will get the Radiologist into the room to apply stress to the hip to ensure stability. This doesn’t harm your baby but they may not like it. It only takes a minute or two for each hip in order for the Radiologist to determine stability.
A transmission medium such as gel or cream will be applied to the area to ensure sufficient transmission of ultrasound waves. This ensures excellent image quality.
Preparation
No specific preparation required other than to arrive 15 minutes early and to bring your Alberta Health Care card.
When Will I get my Results?
Your doctor who ordered the exam will receive the results in 1-2 business days or same day if required urgently.
A pediatric cranial ultrasound looks through the open fontanelle in younger babies. This ultrasound looks for Hydrocephalus, intraventricular haemorrhage, early closure of anterior fontanelle, and subarachnoid abnormalities. A cranial ultrasound is limited and if other possible abnormalities are suspected, it would have to be followed up by a more detailed exam such as MRI or CT.
Pureform Procedure
Your baby will need to lay on the bed and parents will need to assist the technologist to hold the head as much as possible. We do understand that the little ones won’t like this and we can improvise if needed.
A transmission medium such as gel or cream will be applied to the area to ensure sufficient transmission of ultrasound waves. This ensures excellent image quality.
During the exam the ultrasound transducer will be moved around the areas of concern, ensuring each area is imaged completely. The sonographer may reposition a patient to ensure all needed images are taken.
Preparation
No specific preparation required other than to arrive 15 minutes early and to bring your Alberta Health Care card.
When Will I get my Results?
Your doctor who ordered the exam will receive the results within a week or same day if required urgently.
A pediatric spine ultrasound is ordered to assess a cleft in the lower back at the top of the buttock. We will look to see if this cleft communicates with the spine. We can also see extensions of spina bifida if your doctor is concerned about this as well.
Pureform Procedure
Your baby will lay on his or her stomach for this exam. They may not like “tummy time” but this is a relatively quick exam. The lower spine/cleft as well as the kidneys are imaged during this.
A transmission medium such as gel or cream will be applied to the area to ensure sufficient transmission of ultrasound waves. This ensures excellent image quality.
During the exam the ultrasound transducer will be moved around the areas of concern, ensuring each area is imaged completely. The sonographer may reposition a patient to ensure all needed images are taken.
Preparation
No specific preparation required other than to arrive 15 minutes early and to bring your Alberta Health Care card.
When Will I get my Results?
Your doctor who ordered the exam will receive the results in 1-2 business days or same day if required urgently.
A pediatric pyloric stenosis exam is done to ensure that gastric content such as breast milk or formula is passing from the stomach to the small bowel. Your doctor may order this if your baby forcefully projectile vomits.
Pureform Procedure
Your baby will lay on the bed as the technologist scans the upper abdomen. The first part of the test is done with minimal fasting, and then a bottle of breast milk or formula (which you can bring) or distilled water (provided at our clinic) will be given to assess fluid passing through the stomach. Your baby cannot be breast fed during this assessment. We are very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.
A transmission medium such as gel or cream will be applied to the area to ensure sufficient transmission of ultrasound waves. This ensures excellent image quality.
During the exam the ultrasound transducer will be moved around the areas of concern, ensuring each area is imaged completely. The sonographer may reposition a patient to ensure all needed images are taken.
Preparation
No specific preparation required other than to arrive 15 minutes early and to bring your Alberta Health Care card.
When Will I get my Results?
Your doctor who ordered the exam will receive the results in 1-2 business days or same day if required urgently.
When assessing pediatric joints, the time within our clinic will vary from 15 to 90 minutes depending on how many joints your doctor would like us to scan. Some joints will require your child to lay flat on the bed and others will require a sitting position.
The Radiologist looks for fluid collection or swelling of the lining of the joints; an indication of inflammation.
Pureform Procedure
A transmission medium such as gel or cream will be applied to the area to ensure sufficient transmission of ultrasound waves. This ensures excellent image quality.
A transmission medium such as gel or cream will be applied to the area to ensure sufficient transmission of ultrasound waves. This ensures excellent image quality.
During the exam the ultrasound transducer will be moved around the areas of concern, ensuring each area is imaged completely. The sonographer may reposition a patient to ensure all needed images are taken.
Preparation
No specific preparation required other than to arrive 15 minutes early and to bring your Alberta Health Care card.
When Will I get my Results?
Your doctor who ordered the exam will receive the results in 1-2 business days or same day if required urgently.
During an abdomen exam, Pureform uses ultrasound waves to produce images of the internal organs of the abdomen. This exam may help to determine abnormalities in the different areas including the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, kidneys or other areas of concern. We do additional images of the kidneys and blood vessels near the bowel on children 17 years of age and younger.
Pureform Procedure
We will start with your child laying on their back and either roll them onto each side to look at the kidneys or have you hold them against your abdomen.
A transmission medium such as gel or cream will be applied to the area to ensure sufficient transmission of ultrasound waves. This ensure excellent image quality. During the exam the ultrasound transducer will be moved around the areas of concern, ensuring each area is imaged completely. The sonographer may reposition a patient or require them to breath in or out at specific times to ensure all needed images.
Preparation
Please arrive 15 minutes early and to bring your Alberta Health Care card.
-For infants and children 0-2 years: No food or liquids 3 hours prior to exam.
-For Children 2+ years of age: Please do not eat or drink 6 hours prior to your appointment. Clear fluid is allowed if necessary.
When Will I get my Results?
Your doctor who ordered the exam will receive the results within 1-2 days or same day if required urgently.
During a Renal ultrasound, Pureform uses ultrasound waves to produce images of the kidneys and bladder. These exams can help determine abnormalities of these structures like hydronephrosis, structural abnormalities or bladder functions. A Radiologist may have noticed areas of concern while in utero, so your doctor may order this after your baby is born.
Pureform Procedure
We will start with your child laying on their back and either roll them onto each side to look at the kidneys or have you hold them against your abdomen.
A transmission medium such as gel or cream will be applied to the area to ensure sufficient transmission of ultrasound waves. This ensure excellent image quality. During the exam, the ultrasound transducer will be moved around the areas of concern, ensuring each area is imaged completely.
Preparation
Please arrive 15 minutes early and to bring your Alberta Health Care card.
Fasting is not required. For infants and children who are not toilet trained no preparation is required. Water or clear juice 1-2 hours prior to the exam is useful to fill the bladder. For children who are toilet trained: a full bladder is required for this exam. Please drink and finish 2-3 glasses of water or clear juice (8 oz each) 1-2 hours prior to your appointment. Do not empty bladder.
When Will I get my Results?
Your doctor who ordered the exam will receive the results within 1-2 days or same day if required urgently.
Liver Elastography does not replace Liver Dopplers but is another screening tool in the management of liver conditions. Elastography uses shear wave technology to detect liver fibrosis or stiffness of the liver.The stage of liver fibrosis is important to determine prognosis and surveillance.
Pureform Procedure
After positioning on a bed (positioning is exam specific) the sonographer will begin the exam by preparing the area for scanning. This preparation involves ensuring the area to be scanned is clean and free of obstruction.
A transmission medium such as gel or cream will be applied to the area to ensure sufficient transmission of ultrasound waves. This ensures excellent image quality.
During the exam the ultrasound transducer will be moved around the areas of concern, ensuring each area is imaged completely. The sonographer may reposition a patient to ensure all needed images are taken. Your sonographer might need you to do certain breathing techniques as well.
From time to time the sonographer may need to apply some pressure on the probe to completely image a structure. This may cause some minor discomfort but should never be painful. Please communicate with your sonographer during your exam to ensure the best possible experience.
For this particular exam the ultrasound machine will produce a sound similar to a heartbeat or a wave. This is assess the flow through the vascular structures and is standard.
Preparation
Nothing to eat or drink for 6 hours prior to your exam. Please let your booking representative know if you are diabetic. Please arrive 15 minutes early and bring your Alberta Health Care card.
When Will I get my Results?
Your doctor who ordered the exam will receive the results within a week or same day if required urgently.
This exam is performed to locate and image the appendix, which is in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. This portion of the bowel is prone to becoming inflamed and ultrasound is a good tool to determine this.
Pureform Procedure
We will start with your child laying on their back. Varying amounts of pressure will be used to scan the right lower quadrant in order to assess the appendix. This may be slightly uncomfortable but very important in order to fully assess the area of concern.
The sonographer will check every one of these exams with an on site Radiologist prior to sending you and your child away after the exam is complete.
A transmission medium such as gel or cream will be applied to the area to ensure sufficient transmission of ultrasound waves. This ensure excellent image quality. During the exam the ultrasound transducer will be moved around the areas of concern, ensuring each area is imaged completely. The sonographer may reposition a patient or require them to breath in or out at specific times to ensure all needed images.
Preparation
This will vary according to what is checked off on your requisition. Please ask your booking coordinator for your specific instructions. Arrive 15 minutes early.
When Will I get my Results?
Your referring doctor will receive a report in 1-2 business days or same day if required urgently.
This exam may be ordered to look for a hernia (made up of fat or bowel) or a lump under the skin. Your child may have pain or swelling.
Pureform Procedure
After positioning your child on a bed, the sonographer will begin the exam by preparing the area for scanning. This preparation involves ensuring the area to be scanned is clean and free of obstruction (such as clothing).
A transmission medium such as gel or cream will be applied to the area to ensure sufficient transmission of ultrasound waves. This ensures excellent image quality.
During the exam the ultrasound transducer will be moved around the areas of concern, ensuring each area is imaged completely. The sonographer may reposition a patient to ensure all needed images are taken.
From time to time the sonographer may need to apply some pressure on the probe to completely image a structure. This may cause some minor discomfort but should never be painful.
Preparation
No specific preparation required other than to arrive 15 minutes early and to bring your Alberta Health Care card.
When Will I get my Results?
Your doctor who ordered the exam will receive the results in 1-2 business days or same day if required urgently.
This exam is ordered to rule out a hernia (made up of bowel or fat) or lymph nodes in the groin. Occasionally, it will be ordered to rule out a muscle tear as well.
Pureform Procedure
Your sonographer will get you to lie your child on the bed and remove necessary clothing.
A transmission medium such as gel or cream will be applied to the area to ensure sufficient transmission of ultrasound waves. This ensures excellent image quality.
During the exam the ultrasound transducer will be moved around the areas of concern, ensuring each area is imaged completely. The sonographer may reposition a patient to ensure all needed images are taken.
From time to time the sonographer may need to apply some pressure on the probe to completely image a structure. This may cause some minor discomfort but should never be painful.
Preparation
No specific preparation required other than to arrive 15 minutes early and to bring your Alberta Health Care card.
When Will I get my Results?
Your doctor who ordered the exam will receive the results in 1-2 business days or same day if required urgently.
During a scrotal exam, Pureform uses ultrasound waves to produce images of the testicles and groin region. This exam may help to determine abnormalities in the different areas including the epididymis, testicles, scrotal sac and groin. This exam will also determine whether testicular torsion (lack of or decreased blood supply to the testicles) is present.
Pureform Procedure
We will start with your child laying on their back.
A transmission medium such as gel or cream will be applied to the area to ensure sufficient transmission of ultrasound waves. This ensure excellent image quality. During the exam, the ultrasound transducer will be moved around the areas of concern, ensuring each area is imaged completely. The sonographer may need to reposition your child to ensure all needed images are obtained.
Preparation
Arrive 15 minutes early. Please bring Alberta Health Care card and your requisition from you doctor.
When Will I get my Results?
Your referring doctor will receive a report in 1-2 business days or same day if required urgently (usually to rule out testicular torsion).
This exam is performed to locate and image the bladder, urinary jets as well as the reproductive organs. Although as infants and toddlers, these organs are more difficult to see, by the age of 6 or 7, they can be assessed with ultrasound.
Pureform Procedure
We will start with your child laying on their back and either roll them onto each side to look at the kidneys or have you hold them against your abdomen. Your sonographer will apply gel to the exam site then slide and rotate a handheld transducer/probe over your lower abdomen and pelvis to obtain images.
A full bladder is required (for toilet trained children) at the start of this exam as it improves the visibility of the pelvic organs and allows the bladder to be imaged. Once the required images are obtained your child may use the washroom. A transmission medium such as gel or cream will be applied to the area to ensure sufficient transmission of ultrasound waves. This ensure excellent image quality. During the exam, the ultrasound transducer will be moved around the areas of concern, ensuring each area is imaged completely. The sonographer may need to reposition your child to ensure all needed images are obtained.
Preparation
Arrive 15 minutes early. Please bring Alberta Health Care card and your requisition from you doctor.
For infants and children who are not toilet trained: no preparation is required. Water or clear juice is useful to fill the bladder.
For children who are toilet trained: a full bladder is required. Please drink 16oz of water or clear juice 1-2 hours before the exam. Do not empty bladder. It is crucial to follow the preparation instructions for this exam as the bladder cannot be seen if it is not full at the start of your exam.
When Will I get my Results?
Your referring doctor will receive a report in 1-2 business days or same day if required urgently.
Images will be taken of the thyroid and lymph nodes on either side of the gland. Occasionally, the doctor may ask for the salivary glands to be imaged at the same time. This requires gel on the face near the ears.
If your doctor is sending your newborn in for a neck ultrasound to rule out Torticollis, which is a shortened muscle and presents as a lump on one side of the neck, the sonographer will only image this area requested. A comparison will be made on the asymptomatic side of the neck.
Pureform Procedure
We will start with your child laying on their back.
A transmission medium such as gel or cream will be applied to the area to ensure sufficient transmission of ultrasound waves. This ensure excellent image quality. During the exam, the ultrasound transducer will be moved around the areas of concern, ensuring each area is imaged completely. The sonographer may need to reposition your child to ensure all needed images are obtained.
Preparation
Arrive 15 minutes early. Please bring Alberta Health Care card and your requisition from you doctor.
When Will I get my Results?
Your referring doctor will receive a report in 1-2 business days or same day if required urgently.