80. ULTRASOUNDS: IMAGE ARTEFACTS Flashcards
- What are the 5 Image Artefacts?
- Mirror Image
- Acoustic Shadows
(Shadowing Artefacts) - Acoustic Enhancement
(Enhancement Artefacts) - Reverberation
- Refraction
(Edge artefacts)
- What are Artefacts?
- they are ultrasound images
- they do not represent anatomical structures
- How are Artefacts generated?
- they are generated by ultrasounds interacting with
structures within the body
- What are Shadowing Artefacts caused by?
THEY ARE CAUSED BY WHEN:
- an ultrasound encounters high-density structures
ALL OF THE ULTRASOUND CAN EITHER BE:
- absorbed by the surface of the structure
- or reflected from the surface of the structure
- How will the surface of the structure appear in Shadowing Artefacts?
- they will appear as Hyperechoic (white)
- What structures appear as Anechoic (black) in Shadowing Artefacts?
- bone
- anechoic
THIS IS BECAUSE:
- there is no ultrasound available deep to these
structures
- What is the black area of Shadow Artefacts known as?
- it is called the Shadow
- What do we use Shadowing artefacts for?
- we use them for identifying a structure
- Provide an example where we would need to use Shadowing Artefacts?
WE COULD USE IT WHEN ANALYSING:
- gallstones and gallbladder polyps
- they can appear as similar protrusions from the
gallbladder wall
- How do we tell apart gallstones and gallbladder polyps?
ONLY GALLSTONES:
- produce a shadow deep to their image
- this is because of their high density
- How are shadowing artefacts a disadvantage?
- they can obstruct the view of a deeper structure
- What kind of structures absorb the ultrasound?
- dense structures
- When do we have Enhancement Artefacts?
- when an Ultrasound passes through a low density
structure - this structure is filled with fluid
- it passes through this structure with very little
attenuation
EXAMPLE:
- gallbladder
- fluid filled cyst
- What happens when the Ultrasound reaches the fluid filled structures in an Enhancement Artefact?
- it will reach the deep tissues that surround the fluid
filled structure - it will reach them with more energy
THIS MAKES THE FLUID FILLED STRUCTURE LOOK MORE ENHANCED:
- this means that they it looks more white
- it is more echogenic than the surrounding tissues
- What do we use Enhancement artefacts for?
- we use them to distinguish between a fluid filled cyst
and a tumour
BOTH OF THESE LOOK LIKE:
- circular structures within a solid organ