Ultrasound: artefacts: practice question

A Radiology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Radiology · Ultrasound: artefacts

Sample item

On ultrasound of the liver, a simple cyst shows increased brightness of tissues lying deep to it. What is this artefact called?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Posterior acoustic enhancement

Fluid attenuates sound much less than the adjacent tissue, so the beam emerging from a cyst is stronger and the tissue behind appears brighter. Calculi and bone show the opposite, posterior acoustic shadowing. The enhancement helps to confirm that a lesion is fluid-filled.

Option by option

  • A. Posterior acoustic enhancement (correct)

    Correct. A fluid-filled structure produces enhancement behind it.

  • B. Reverberation

    Reverberation produces repeated parallel lines from strong reflectors.

  • C. Mirror image

    Mirror artefact duplicates structures around a strong reflector such as the diaphragm.

  • D. Acoustic shadowing

    Shadowing is seen behind strongly absorbing or reflecting structures such as stones.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Radiology questions

Questions about this Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is A, Posterior acoustic enhancement. Fluid attenuates sound much less than the adjacent tissue, so the beam emerging from a cyst is stronger and the tissue behind appears brighter.

Why is "Reverberation" not the answer?

Reverberation produces repeated parallel lines from strong reflectors.

Why is "Mirror image" not the answer?

Mirror artefact duplicates structures around a strong reflector such as the diaphragm.

Why is "Acoustic shadowing" not the answer?

Shadowing is seen behind strongly absorbing or reflecting structures such as stones.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Ultrasound: artefacts in Radiology. Calculi and bone show the opposite, posterior acoustic shadowing. The enhancement helps to confirm that a lesion is fluid-filled.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Ultrasound: artefacts?

Learn signs with the image, and the disease they point to. Then use the flashcards and the other Radiology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.