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DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHER
(RDMS) – ABDOMEN (AB) EXAM |
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS AND
RATIONALES
1. What is the primary physical principle of
ultrasound imaging?
A) X-ray attenuation
B) Reflection of sound waves at tissue interfaces
(acoustic impedance differences)
C) Magnetic resonance
D) Gamma ray emission
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Ultrasound relies on reflection (echoes) of
high-frequency sound waves at boundaries of tissues
with different acoustic impedances.
2. Which of the following is the normal sonographic
appearance of the liver?
A) Homogeneous, medium-level echoes, similar or
slightly brighter than renal cortex
,B) Anechoic with posterior enhancement
C) Hyperechoic with shadowing
D) Complex cystic
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Normal liver is homogeneous, with
echogenicity slightly greater than or equal to renal
cortex.
3. Which of the following is the sonographic
appearance of a simple hepatic cyst?
A) Anechoic, smooth thin walls, posterior acoustic
enhancement, no internal echoes, round/oval
B) Complex echogenic mass
C) Hypoechoic mass with wall thickening
D) Hyperechoic with shadowing
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Simple cyst is anechoic (fluid), well-
defined, with through-transmission (posterior
enhancement).
4. Which of the following is the sonographic finding of
hepatic steatosis (fatty liver)?
,A) Diffusely increased echogenicity (bright liver) with
decreased penetration, "bright liver" sign, often
compared to renal cortex
B) Hypoechoic mass
C) Cystic lesion
D) Calcification
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Fatty liver: echogenicity greater than renal
cortex and often greater than spleen; posterior beam
attenuation.
5. Which of the following is the sonographic finding of
acute cholecystitis?
A) Gallbladder wall thickening (>3-4 mm),
pericholecystic fluid, sonographic Murphy sign,
gallstones
B) Normal thin wall
C) Sludge only
D) Polyp
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Acute cholecystitis: wall thickening,
pericholecystic fluid, sonographic Murphy sign, and
gallstones.
, 6. Which of the following is the normal gallbladder
wall thickness?
A) <1 mm
B) <3 mm (normal ≤3 mm; >3-4 mm suggests
thickening)
C) 5-10 mm
D) 1 cm
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Normal gallbladder wall is ≤3 mm (thin,
regular); thickening indicates inflammation, edema,
or other pathology.
7. Which of the following is the sonographic
appearance of gallstones (cholelithiasis)?
A) Hyperechoic (bright) focus within gallbladder with
posterior acoustic shadowing (shadow may be
absent with small stones)
B) Anechoic structure
C) Hypoechoic mass
D) Thickened wall only
Correct answer: A
DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHER
(RDMS) – ABDOMEN (AB) EXAM |
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS AND
RATIONALES
1. What is the primary physical principle of
ultrasound imaging?
A) X-ray attenuation
B) Reflection of sound waves at tissue interfaces
(acoustic impedance differences)
C) Magnetic resonance
D) Gamma ray emission
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Ultrasound relies on reflection (echoes) of
high-frequency sound waves at boundaries of tissues
with different acoustic impedances.
2. Which of the following is the normal sonographic
appearance of the liver?
A) Homogeneous, medium-level echoes, similar or
slightly brighter than renal cortex
,B) Anechoic with posterior enhancement
C) Hyperechoic with shadowing
D) Complex cystic
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Normal liver is homogeneous, with
echogenicity slightly greater than or equal to renal
cortex.
3. Which of the following is the sonographic
appearance of a simple hepatic cyst?
A) Anechoic, smooth thin walls, posterior acoustic
enhancement, no internal echoes, round/oval
B) Complex echogenic mass
C) Hypoechoic mass with wall thickening
D) Hyperechoic with shadowing
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Simple cyst is anechoic (fluid), well-
defined, with through-transmission (posterior
enhancement).
4. Which of the following is the sonographic finding of
hepatic steatosis (fatty liver)?
,A) Diffusely increased echogenicity (bright liver) with
decreased penetration, "bright liver" sign, often
compared to renal cortex
B) Hypoechoic mass
C) Cystic lesion
D) Calcification
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Fatty liver: echogenicity greater than renal
cortex and often greater than spleen; posterior beam
attenuation.
5. Which of the following is the sonographic finding of
acute cholecystitis?
A) Gallbladder wall thickening (>3-4 mm),
pericholecystic fluid, sonographic Murphy sign,
gallstones
B) Normal thin wall
C) Sludge only
D) Polyp
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Acute cholecystitis: wall thickening,
pericholecystic fluid, sonographic Murphy sign, and
gallstones.
, 6. Which of the following is the normal gallbladder
wall thickness?
A) <1 mm
B) <3 mm (normal ≤3 mm; >3-4 mm suggests
thickening)
C) 5-10 mm
D) 1 cm
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Normal gallbladder wall is ≤3 mm (thin,
regular); thickening indicates inflammation, edema,
or other pathology.
7. Which of the following is the sonographic
appearance of gallstones (cholelithiasis)?
A) Hyperechoic (bright) focus within gallbladder with
posterior acoustic shadowing (shadow may be
absent with small stones)
B) Anechoic structure
C) Hypoechoic mass
D) Thickened wall only
Correct answer: A
