ARDMS BREAST REGISTRY EXAM AND STUDY GUIDE
NEWEST 2024 ACTUAL EXAM 450 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |
ALREADY GRADED A+
Artifact - ANSWER: An echo feature present or absent in a sonographic image that
does not correspond to the presence or absence of a real structure. Eg.
enhancement or shadowing.
Attenuation - ANSWER: The reduction of intensity (and amplitude) of a sound wave
as it travels through a material. Attenuation is due to absorption, reflection, and
scattering.
Complex - ANSWER: A structure in the body that contains both cystic and solid
components.
Echogenic - ANSWER: A structure or medium that produces echoes.
Edge Shadowing - ANSWER: Decreased echo amplitude distal to the edge of a
structure. This artifact results from refraction of the sound beam.
Enhancement - ANSWER: Increased echo amplitude returning from regions lying
beyond an object that causes little or no attenuation of the sound beam (typically a
cystic structure). This artifact results in a brighter than normal appearance.
Heterogeneous - ANSWER: A structure that has an uneven texture (hypoechoic and
hyperechoic echoes throughout). Synonym - non-uniform.
Homogeneous - ANSWER: Smooth uniform texture
Ipsilateral - ANSWER: On the same side.
Contrlateral - ANSWER: On the opposite side.
Isoechoic - ANSWER: Same echogenicity as another structure or the surrounding
tissue.
Noise - ANSWER: Spurious echoes throughout the image.
Real-time - ANSWER: The scanning and display of sonographic images at a
sufficiently rapid rate so that moving structures can be seen to move at their natural
rate. ***Frame rates of 15 frames per second or greater are considered real time***
Reverberation - ANSWER: Artifact causing linear echoes parallel to a strong interface.
Sound "bounces"
,Ring Down - ANSWER: Reverb in which numerous parallel echoes are seen for a
considerable distance. E.g. a biopsy needle.
Sensitivity - ANSWER: The ability to diagnose disease in a patient when disease is
present.
Texture - ANSWER: The pattern of echoes seen from a mass or area of interest in the
body.
Refractive Edge Shadowing - ANSWER: Bending of a sound beam and loss of sound
energy causing a shadow.
Mid level gray corresponds to _____ in the breast. - ANSWER: Fat
Hyperechoic describes what three structures visualized in breast sonography. -
ANSWER: Fibroglandular tissue, Cooper's Ligament, Skin
What frequency transducer is optimal for breast imaging? - ANSWER: 7.0-15.0 MHz
is optimal for superior axial and lateral resolution while maintaining penetration to
the chest wall. It should also be BROADBAND.
Fixed elevation focusing represents.... - ANSWER: Focusing along the short axis of the
transducer.
What design of transducer is used in breast imaging? - ANSWER: Linear array is
optimal
The advantage of a rectangular image over a sector image is the avoidance of what
artifact? - ANSWER: Beam divergence
Interventional procedures are more accurately guided with a _______ __________
probe. - ANSWER: Linear array
When is a curved array transducer used in breast imaging? - ANSWER: Pathology too
large to fit on linear image
Most linear transducers in breast sonography are ______ arrays. - ANSWER: 1-D
1-D arrays offer a fixed focus in the ________ plan (short axis) - ANSWER: Elevation
1.5-D matrix array transducers have multiple elements along the _____ axis of the
probe. - ANSWER: Short
1.5-D arrays offer some electronic focusing in the __________ plane. - ANSWER:
Elevation
,2-D array transducers are not currently _________. - ANSWER: available
Imaging depth should penetrate the chest wall-- ___ to ___ cm should be adequate -
ANSWER: 3, 6
An echo's brightness is controlled by ______ - ANSWER: gain
Know overall gain, TGC, and output power - ANSWER: This is ultrasound elementary.
If your image is too bright decrease the ______________. - ANSWER: Output power
If your image is too dark increase the ____________. - ANSWER: Receiver gain
__________ focal zones are recommended for breast imaging. - ANSWER: Multiple
Multiple focal zones will decrease what? - ANSWER: Frame rate
a 7-12 MHz probe must be used to obtain an elevation focus depth of ____ to _____
cm. - ANSWER: 1,2
10 MHz = _____ cm elevation plane focus - ANSWER: 1.5
____________ (artifact) decreases contrast resolution and spatial resoution (both
axial and lateral). Places unwanted echoes in cysts. - ANSWER: Volume averaging
_______ __________ is more sensitive to low velocity flow and offers angle
independence. - ANSWER: Power Doppler
Three reasons Doppler is useful: - ANSWER: (1)Solid vs Cystic
(2)Inflammed vs Non-Inflammed
(3)Complicated Cyst vs Complex Cyst vs Intraductal Papilloma
To optimize Doppler for breast imaging (4 things) - ANSWER: (1) Low velocity scale
(2) Low filter setting
(3) Optimal Doppler gain setting
(4) Increased PRF for high velocities
Uses compounding technique to combine ultrsound lines acquired from different
scanning directions (angles). Improves tissue differentiation, margin visualization,
and internal architecture creating a "smoother" more realistic image. - ANSWER:
Spatial compounding
What are the advantages (2) and disadvantages (2) of spatial compounding? -
ANSWER: Advantages:
-Clears cysts
-Reduces speckle and other noise artifacts (clutter)
Disadvantages
, -Reduces acoustic enhancement and shadowing artifact
-Subject to blurring
A diagnostic methof that evaluates the elastic properties of tissue. Breast tissues
vibrate differently based on their firmness. - ANSWER: Elastography
Breast elastography may have the potential to differentiate benign from malignant
breast tumors (BIRADS 3 from BIRADS 4 lesions) and potential reduce the number of
__________. - ANSWER: Biopsies
List the 6 anatomic layers from anterior to posterior. - ANSWER: 1. Skin
2. Subcutaneous aka Premammary Layer
3. Mammary Layer
4. Retromammary Space
5. Muscle Layers (Pectoralis major m, and Pectoralis minor m.)
6. Chest Wall (Ribs and Intercostal muscles)
What is the normal thickness of the skin layer?**** - ANSWER: 0.5 to 2mm ****
The breast skin is slightly thicker in ______ females and thins with ______. -
ANSWER: young, age
Area that consists of dense connective tissue and erectile muscle, contains many
sensory nerve endings, and has _________ collecting duct openings. - ANSWER:
Nipple, 15-20
The areola consists of _______ muscle. - ANSWER: Smooth
These sebaceous glands are found in the areola. - ANSWER: Montgomery glands.
The premammary layer primarily consists of ________. - ANSWER: fat
The premammary layer is not seen where? - ANSWER: Posterior to the nipple.
The amount of fat in the premammary layer increases with ______, _______, and
_______. - ANSWER: Age, pregnancy, obesity.
_________ __________ appear as prominent structures within the subcutaneous
(premammary) layer. - ANSWER: Cooper's ligaments.
The breast tissue is completely contained between the layers of the _______
__________. - ANSWER: Superficial fascia
At the breast, the _________ ___________ divides into the superficial and deep
layers. - ANSWER: Superficial fascia
NEWEST 2024 ACTUAL EXAM 450 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |
ALREADY GRADED A+
Artifact - ANSWER: An echo feature present or absent in a sonographic image that
does not correspond to the presence or absence of a real structure. Eg.
enhancement or shadowing.
Attenuation - ANSWER: The reduction of intensity (and amplitude) of a sound wave
as it travels through a material. Attenuation is due to absorption, reflection, and
scattering.
Complex - ANSWER: A structure in the body that contains both cystic and solid
components.
Echogenic - ANSWER: A structure or medium that produces echoes.
Edge Shadowing - ANSWER: Decreased echo amplitude distal to the edge of a
structure. This artifact results from refraction of the sound beam.
Enhancement - ANSWER: Increased echo amplitude returning from regions lying
beyond an object that causes little or no attenuation of the sound beam (typically a
cystic structure). This artifact results in a brighter than normal appearance.
Heterogeneous - ANSWER: A structure that has an uneven texture (hypoechoic and
hyperechoic echoes throughout). Synonym - non-uniform.
Homogeneous - ANSWER: Smooth uniform texture
Ipsilateral - ANSWER: On the same side.
Contrlateral - ANSWER: On the opposite side.
Isoechoic - ANSWER: Same echogenicity as another structure or the surrounding
tissue.
Noise - ANSWER: Spurious echoes throughout the image.
Real-time - ANSWER: The scanning and display of sonographic images at a
sufficiently rapid rate so that moving structures can be seen to move at their natural
rate. ***Frame rates of 15 frames per second or greater are considered real time***
Reverberation - ANSWER: Artifact causing linear echoes parallel to a strong interface.
Sound "bounces"
,Ring Down - ANSWER: Reverb in which numerous parallel echoes are seen for a
considerable distance. E.g. a biopsy needle.
Sensitivity - ANSWER: The ability to diagnose disease in a patient when disease is
present.
Texture - ANSWER: The pattern of echoes seen from a mass or area of interest in the
body.
Refractive Edge Shadowing - ANSWER: Bending of a sound beam and loss of sound
energy causing a shadow.
Mid level gray corresponds to _____ in the breast. - ANSWER: Fat
Hyperechoic describes what three structures visualized in breast sonography. -
ANSWER: Fibroglandular tissue, Cooper's Ligament, Skin
What frequency transducer is optimal for breast imaging? - ANSWER: 7.0-15.0 MHz
is optimal for superior axial and lateral resolution while maintaining penetration to
the chest wall. It should also be BROADBAND.
Fixed elevation focusing represents.... - ANSWER: Focusing along the short axis of the
transducer.
What design of transducer is used in breast imaging? - ANSWER: Linear array is
optimal
The advantage of a rectangular image over a sector image is the avoidance of what
artifact? - ANSWER: Beam divergence
Interventional procedures are more accurately guided with a _______ __________
probe. - ANSWER: Linear array
When is a curved array transducer used in breast imaging? - ANSWER: Pathology too
large to fit on linear image
Most linear transducers in breast sonography are ______ arrays. - ANSWER: 1-D
1-D arrays offer a fixed focus in the ________ plan (short axis) - ANSWER: Elevation
1.5-D matrix array transducers have multiple elements along the _____ axis of the
probe. - ANSWER: Short
1.5-D arrays offer some electronic focusing in the __________ plane. - ANSWER:
Elevation
,2-D array transducers are not currently _________. - ANSWER: available
Imaging depth should penetrate the chest wall-- ___ to ___ cm should be adequate -
ANSWER: 3, 6
An echo's brightness is controlled by ______ - ANSWER: gain
Know overall gain, TGC, and output power - ANSWER: This is ultrasound elementary.
If your image is too bright decrease the ______________. - ANSWER: Output power
If your image is too dark increase the ____________. - ANSWER: Receiver gain
__________ focal zones are recommended for breast imaging. - ANSWER: Multiple
Multiple focal zones will decrease what? - ANSWER: Frame rate
a 7-12 MHz probe must be used to obtain an elevation focus depth of ____ to _____
cm. - ANSWER: 1,2
10 MHz = _____ cm elevation plane focus - ANSWER: 1.5
____________ (artifact) decreases contrast resolution and spatial resoution (both
axial and lateral). Places unwanted echoes in cysts. - ANSWER: Volume averaging
_______ __________ is more sensitive to low velocity flow and offers angle
independence. - ANSWER: Power Doppler
Three reasons Doppler is useful: - ANSWER: (1)Solid vs Cystic
(2)Inflammed vs Non-Inflammed
(3)Complicated Cyst vs Complex Cyst vs Intraductal Papilloma
To optimize Doppler for breast imaging (4 things) - ANSWER: (1) Low velocity scale
(2) Low filter setting
(3) Optimal Doppler gain setting
(4) Increased PRF for high velocities
Uses compounding technique to combine ultrsound lines acquired from different
scanning directions (angles). Improves tissue differentiation, margin visualization,
and internal architecture creating a "smoother" more realistic image. - ANSWER:
Spatial compounding
What are the advantages (2) and disadvantages (2) of spatial compounding? -
ANSWER: Advantages:
-Clears cysts
-Reduces speckle and other noise artifacts (clutter)
Disadvantages
, -Reduces acoustic enhancement and shadowing artifact
-Subject to blurring
A diagnostic methof that evaluates the elastic properties of tissue. Breast tissues
vibrate differently based on their firmness. - ANSWER: Elastography
Breast elastography may have the potential to differentiate benign from malignant
breast tumors (BIRADS 3 from BIRADS 4 lesions) and potential reduce the number of
__________. - ANSWER: Biopsies
List the 6 anatomic layers from anterior to posterior. - ANSWER: 1. Skin
2. Subcutaneous aka Premammary Layer
3. Mammary Layer
4. Retromammary Space
5. Muscle Layers (Pectoralis major m, and Pectoralis minor m.)
6. Chest Wall (Ribs and Intercostal muscles)
What is the normal thickness of the skin layer?**** - ANSWER: 0.5 to 2mm ****
The breast skin is slightly thicker in ______ females and thins with ______. -
ANSWER: young, age
Area that consists of dense connective tissue and erectile muscle, contains many
sensory nerve endings, and has _________ collecting duct openings. - ANSWER:
Nipple, 15-20
The areola consists of _______ muscle. - ANSWER: Smooth
These sebaceous glands are found in the areola. - ANSWER: Montgomery glands.
The premammary layer primarily consists of ________. - ANSWER: fat
The premammary layer is not seen where? - ANSWER: Posterior to the nipple.
The amount of fat in the premammary layer increases with ______, _______, and
_______. - ANSWER: Age, pregnancy, obesity.
_________ __________ appear as prominent structures within the subcutaneous
(premammary) layer. - ANSWER: Cooper's ligaments.
The breast tissue is completely contained between the layers of the _______
__________. - ANSWER: Superficial fascia
At the breast, the _________ ___________ divides into the superficial and deep
layers. - ANSWER: Superficial fascia
