Artifacts in Diagnostic Ultrasonography

Abstract

In this review, the ultrasound (US) artifacts features such as propagation path, velocity, attenuation, multiple echoes, and resolution are explained. The main restrictions of an axial and lateral resolution are artifacts. However, failure to fix them lead to the lack of details, and adjacent neighboring objects may be observed as one image. This article describes an essential law to control wave movement, and the US artifacts are formed. Thus, it is substantial for the radiologist and sonographer to differentiate between the artifacts and abnormal signs during the diagnostic procedure. Furthermore, the use of enhancing and shadowing artifacts in determining the nature of masses was explained. The comet tail, attenuation, mirror image, refraction, speed displacement, side lobe, and beam width artifacts happened typically in clinical (in-vivo) practice were also discussed. Finally, an estimation and evaluation of these artifacts are necessary to increase the accuracy in diagnosis.