EACVI AEPC Congenital Heart Disease Echocardiography (Echo CHD)
Practice Exam 2026
Verified Questions with Answers & Detailed Rationales
Section 1: Ultrasound Physics & Instrumentation (Questions 1–15)
1. Which of the following best describes the relationship between
ultrasound frequency and axial resolution?
A) Higher frequency decreases axial resolution
B) Higher frequency improves axial resolution
C) Frequency does not affect axial resolution
D) Lower frequency improves axial resolution
Answer B: — Higher frequency improves axial resolution
,Rationale: Axial resolution improves with higher frequency because
the wavelength shortens, allowing finer discrimination of structures
along the beam's axis. ---
2. In a standard parasternal long-axis view, the aortic valve annulus
is best visualized at which depth setting?
A) 2–3 cm
B) 4–5 cm
C) 6–7 cm
D) 8–9 cm
Answer B: — 4–5 cm
Rationale: The aortic valve lies approximately 4–5 cm deep in infants
and children; setting the imaging depth to this range maximizes
resolution and frame rate. ---
3. The Nyquist limit in color Doppler is determined by:
A) Pulse-repetition frequency (PRF) divided by two
B) PRF multiplied by two
C) The transducer frequency
,D) The gain setting
Answer A: — Pulse-repetition frequency (PRF) divided by two
Rationale: The Nyquist limit equals half the PRF; velocities exceeding
this limit appear aliased in the color map. ---
4. Which Doppler mode is most appropriate for measuring high-
velocity gradients across a severe pulmonary stenosis?
A) Pulsed-wave Doppler
B) Continuous-wave Doppler
C) Color Doppler
D) Tissue Doppler
Answer B: — Continuous-wave Doppler
Rationale: Continuous-wave Doppler is essential for measuring high-
velocity jets because it does not have the Nyquist limit constraints of
pulsed-wave Doppler. ---
5. Which of the following transducers is most suitable for
performing a comprehensive echocardiogram in a neonate with
complex CHD?
, A) High-frequency linear array transducer
B) Phased-array sector transducer
C) Curvilinear array transducer
D) Continuous-wave Doppler probe
Answer B: — Phased-array sector transducer
Rationale: A phased-array sector transducer is ideal for neonatal
echocardiography because it provides a small footprint, high frame
rate, and excellent penetration for cardiac imaging. ---
6. What is the primary advantage of using a higher-frequency
transducer in pediatric echocardiography?
A) Increased penetration
B) Improved spatial resolution
C) Reduced frame rate
D) Increased Nyquist limit
Answer B: — Improved spatial resolution
Rationale: Higher-frequency transducers provide improved spatial
resolution at the expense of penetration, making them ideal for
imaging small, superficial structures in infants. ---
Practice Exam 2026
Verified Questions with Answers & Detailed Rationales
Section 1: Ultrasound Physics & Instrumentation (Questions 1–15)
1. Which of the following best describes the relationship between
ultrasound frequency and axial resolution?
A) Higher frequency decreases axial resolution
B) Higher frequency improves axial resolution
C) Frequency does not affect axial resolution
D) Lower frequency improves axial resolution
Answer B: — Higher frequency improves axial resolution
,Rationale: Axial resolution improves with higher frequency because
the wavelength shortens, allowing finer discrimination of structures
along the beam's axis. ---
2. In a standard parasternal long-axis view, the aortic valve annulus
is best visualized at which depth setting?
A) 2–3 cm
B) 4–5 cm
C) 6–7 cm
D) 8–9 cm
Answer B: — 4–5 cm
Rationale: The aortic valve lies approximately 4–5 cm deep in infants
and children; setting the imaging depth to this range maximizes
resolution and frame rate. ---
3. The Nyquist limit in color Doppler is determined by:
A) Pulse-repetition frequency (PRF) divided by two
B) PRF multiplied by two
C) The transducer frequency
,D) The gain setting
Answer A: — Pulse-repetition frequency (PRF) divided by two
Rationale: The Nyquist limit equals half the PRF; velocities exceeding
this limit appear aliased in the color map. ---
4. Which Doppler mode is most appropriate for measuring high-
velocity gradients across a severe pulmonary stenosis?
A) Pulsed-wave Doppler
B) Continuous-wave Doppler
C) Color Doppler
D) Tissue Doppler
Answer B: — Continuous-wave Doppler
Rationale: Continuous-wave Doppler is essential for measuring high-
velocity jets because it does not have the Nyquist limit constraints of
pulsed-wave Doppler. ---
5. Which of the following transducers is most suitable for
performing a comprehensive echocardiogram in a neonate with
complex CHD?
, A) High-frequency linear array transducer
B) Phased-array sector transducer
C) Curvilinear array transducer
D) Continuous-wave Doppler probe
Answer B: — Phased-array sector transducer
Rationale: A phased-array sector transducer is ideal for neonatal
echocardiography because it provides a small footprint, high frame
rate, and excellent penetration for cardiac imaging. ---
6. What is the primary advantage of using a higher-frequency
transducer in pediatric echocardiography?
A) Increased penetration
B) Improved spatial resolution
C) Reduced frame rate
D) Increased Nyquist limit
Answer B: — Improved spatial resolution
Rationale: Higher-frequency transducers provide improved spatial
resolution at the expense of penetration, making them ideal for
imaging small, superficial structures in infants. ---
