Artifacts Flashcards
What is an artifact?
Anything that does not correctly display the structures or functions that are imaged
Artifacts can be the result or related to what? (4)
- Manufacturing equipment
- Defective recording device (PAC)
- Improper operation of equipment
- Acoustic properties of tissues and propagation of sound waves
Artifacts occur because of what assumptions made about how sound propagates in tissue? (4)
- All tissues have the same acoustic velocity (1540m/s)- density/stiffness determine velocity
- The sound beams travel in a straight line
- Echo strength indicates organ echogenicity only
- The distance to each reflector equals the round trip time
What are the groups artifacts are categorized into? (4)
- No real- not representing actual interfaces
- Missing
- Improperly located
- Improper brightness, shape and size
What are the 2 most common groups artifacts are categorized into?
- The propagation group
2. The attenuation group
Is axial resolution artifact hurtful or helpful?
Hurtful
How does axial resolution hurtful?
When objects are less then 1/2 SPL apart in the axis of the beam - demonstrated as a single echo
How do you correct for the AR artifact?
Change SPL by increasing frequency
Is lateral resolution artifact hurtful or helpful?
Hurtful
What is lateral resolution artifact also known as?
Point spreading or image broadening
How does lateral resolution artifact appear?
Reflectors smeared across the screen in areas where the bean is wide
How can the lateral resolution artifact be exaggerated?
With increased gain or TGC
How do you correct for the lateral resolution artifact? (3)
Lower overall gain or TGC
Scan in the ZNL with properly adjusted focus
Use highest frequency possible
Why can lateral resolution artifact be hurtful?
Appears brighter and can cause us to misplace calibers
Is slice thickness artifact helpful or hurtful?
Hurtful
What is the slice thickness artifact sometimes referred to as?
Volume averaging
What artifact can account for filling in of anechoic structure with false debris?
Slice thickness artifact
Why does the slice thickness artifact happen?
Due to the assumption that all returning echos come back from the centre of the beam
What plane does slice thickness occur in?
Z axis
How do you correct for slice thickness artifact?
Reposition probe so that the narrowest portion of the z-axis is at the desired location
Is the acoustic speckle artifact hurtful or helpful?
Hurtful
What are non-specular reflectors?
Parenchyma
How does acoustic speckle artifact occur?
Several off axis reflections from scatter in parenchyma
How does constructive and destructive interference resulting from acoustic speckle artifact make the tissue appear?
Creates heterogeneous brightness- making liver look speckled (light and dark spots)- almost unhealthy
How do you correct the acoustic speckle artifact?
Persistance- smooths image by averaging out the frames to help homogenize the tissue brightness
Do acoustic speckle artifacts appear in the same spot twice?
No
Is the reverberation artifact hurtful or helpful?
Hurtful
What is reverberation?
The reflection of sound b/w the transducer and a strong interference
Where is the revelation artifact often seen?
Near probe surface or near fluid filled structures
Baby skull
What will reverberation artifact appear as?
Multiple equally spaced linear lines that get weaker with depth and look like rungs of a ladder
How do you correct for the reverberation artifact? (2)
Changing your window
Using harmonics
What is another type of reverberation?
Comet tail artifact
Is comet tail artifact hurtful or harmful?
Both
Describe comet tail artifact
Specifically a short range reverberation b/w 2 very closely spaced specular reflectors
What type of structures or materials can cause comet tail artifact?
Metal clips, metal pellets, biopsy needle, metal IUCD, thin layers of calcium, cholesterol crystals
How can the comet tail artifact be helpful?
To diagnose
Where is a comet tail the comet artifact commonly seen?
Gallbladder wall- calcium in walls
How do you fix for comet tail artifact?
Move windows
What is the third type of reverberation?
Ring down reverberation
How does the ring down artifact appear?
Similar to comet tail without the discrete echo and instead appears as a continuous stream of long echos
How long does the comet tail artifact last?
mm
What causes ring down reverberation?
Resonance phenomena associated with gas bubbles in which as vibrates and becomes a new round source
Is ring down reverberation hurtful or helpful?
Helpful
How does US associated with bubbles and gas vibrations?
Sound is a propagating mechanical wave causing bubbles to move therefore making their own source of sound
What is a mirror image artifact?
Duplication of an object due to an odd angled song reflector
How is a mirror image artifact produced?
When the machine assumes the beam travels in a straight line but the beam is reflected by a specular reflector towards the object and returned to the probe along the same path
What is an example of a specular reflector?
Diaphragm
Can you always correct for the mirror image artifact?
No
What is a multi path artifact the result of?
Assumption that the beam travels in a straight line