SPI EXAM (DAVIES) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Range ambiguity - Answers - Reflecting structure is located deeper in position than that
of of the depth of the imaging system
Side lobes - Answers - Linear type artifact created by a single element transducer;
sound energy travels in a direction other than the beam's main axis
Edge shadow - Answers - Exhibits a hypo to anechoic band from the edge of a curved
surface
Multipath - Answers - Some of the pulses of sound will travel directly to a reflector
whereas some of them do not
Shadow - Answers - Anechoic region directly behind a structure that is high attenuation,
thus deep reflectors (true structures) may not be visible in the image
Specular reflection - Answers - Occurs when the surface is smooth and large compared
to the wavelength
Diffraction - Answers - Requires the sound to pass through a small aperture
Refraction - Answers - Occurs with oblique incidence and a change in propagation
speeds at the interface
The ability to differentiate between two regions having similar echogenicity, such as in
this liver image with focal fatty infiltration, is termed: - Answers - Contrast resolution
You measured an area reduction of 90% in the artery. This is equal to a diameter
reduction of:
A. 25%
B. 30%
C. 50%
D. 75%
E. 90% - Answers - D. 75%
What statement is correct regarding the comparison of these two waveforms? - Answers
- The waveform on the left indicates a low-resistance state compared to the waveform
on the right
Which physics concept best explains why Doppler signal strength would be greater with
a 6.3 MHz transducer than with a 5.0 MHz transducer? - Answers - Rayleigh scattering
The shadow depicted in this image of a renal stone is primarily a result of the following
sound-tissue interaction: - Answers - Reflection
, Period - Answers - The time it takes one complete cycle to occur
These B-mode images of the common carotid artery show a graphic overlay indicating
the number of lines of sight used to acquire each frame of information. No other system
parameter was adjusted. Which statement below is true comparing image A to image B?
A. Image A has a frame rate higher than image B
B. Image A has better lateral resolution than image B
C. Image A has better axial resolution than image B
D. The temporal resolution is better in image A than in image B
E. The PRF in image A is lower than that in image B - Answers - B. Image A has better
lateral resolution than image B
What type of resolution is affected most by pulse duration? - Answers - Axial resolution
Digital-to-analog conversion of the ultrasound signal must occur at what part of the
imaging process? - Answers - Between the scan converter and the display
For pulsed ultrasound which of the following factors determines the frequency of the
sound wave?
A. Pulse Repetition Frequency (PRF)
B. Transmitter frequency
C. Area of the transducer elements
D. Pressure applied to the transducer
E. All of the above - Answers - B. Transmitter frequency
Why do blood vessels usually appear anechoic on B-mode imaging ? - Answers - The
reflection from the red blood cells is too weak to be displayed
Grating lobes - Answers - Created by array transducers; sound energy travels in a
direction other than the main axis of the beam
Comet Tail Artifact - Answers - Related to reverberation artifact
What term describes the number of pulses that are used to determine the velocity along
a color line of sight? - Answers - Packet Size
What would most likely result from increasing the transmit frequency of the Color
Doppler? - Answers - Improved sensitivity to flow
Scattering - Answers - Occurs when the sound strikes an irregular or rough surface that
is small compared to the wavelength
While performing a sonographic examination, you have performed both preprocessing
and postprocessing functions. Which of the following functions is postprocessing -
Answers - Gray-scale map assignment
Range ambiguity - Answers - Reflecting structure is located deeper in position than that
of of the depth of the imaging system
Side lobes - Answers - Linear type artifact created by a single element transducer;
sound energy travels in a direction other than the beam's main axis
Edge shadow - Answers - Exhibits a hypo to anechoic band from the edge of a curved
surface
Multipath - Answers - Some of the pulses of sound will travel directly to a reflector
whereas some of them do not
Shadow - Answers - Anechoic region directly behind a structure that is high attenuation,
thus deep reflectors (true structures) may not be visible in the image
Specular reflection - Answers - Occurs when the surface is smooth and large compared
to the wavelength
Diffraction - Answers - Requires the sound to pass through a small aperture
Refraction - Answers - Occurs with oblique incidence and a change in propagation
speeds at the interface
The ability to differentiate between two regions having similar echogenicity, such as in
this liver image with focal fatty infiltration, is termed: - Answers - Contrast resolution
You measured an area reduction of 90% in the artery. This is equal to a diameter
reduction of:
A. 25%
B. 30%
C. 50%
D. 75%
E. 90% - Answers - D. 75%
What statement is correct regarding the comparison of these two waveforms? - Answers
- The waveform on the left indicates a low-resistance state compared to the waveform
on the right
Which physics concept best explains why Doppler signal strength would be greater with
a 6.3 MHz transducer than with a 5.0 MHz transducer? - Answers - Rayleigh scattering
The shadow depicted in this image of a renal stone is primarily a result of the following
sound-tissue interaction: - Answers - Reflection
, Period - Answers - The time it takes one complete cycle to occur
These B-mode images of the common carotid artery show a graphic overlay indicating
the number of lines of sight used to acquire each frame of information. No other system
parameter was adjusted. Which statement below is true comparing image A to image B?
A. Image A has a frame rate higher than image B
B. Image A has better lateral resolution than image B
C. Image A has better axial resolution than image B
D. The temporal resolution is better in image A than in image B
E. The PRF in image A is lower than that in image B - Answers - B. Image A has better
lateral resolution than image B
What type of resolution is affected most by pulse duration? - Answers - Axial resolution
Digital-to-analog conversion of the ultrasound signal must occur at what part of the
imaging process? - Answers - Between the scan converter and the display
For pulsed ultrasound which of the following factors determines the frequency of the
sound wave?
A. Pulse Repetition Frequency (PRF)
B. Transmitter frequency
C. Area of the transducer elements
D. Pressure applied to the transducer
E. All of the above - Answers - B. Transmitter frequency
Why do blood vessels usually appear anechoic on B-mode imaging ? - Answers - The
reflection from the red blood cells is too weak to be displayed
Grating lobes - Answers - Created by array transducers; sound energy travels in a
direction other than the main axis of the beam
Comet Tail Artifact - Answers - Related to reverberation artifact
What term describes the number of pulses that are used to determine the velocity along
a color line of sight? - Answers - Packet Size
What would most likely result from increasing the transmit frequency of the Color
Doppler? - Answers - Improved sensitivity to flow
Scattering - Answers - Occurs when the sound strikes an irregular or rough surface that
is small compared to the wavelength
While performing a sonographic examination, you have performed both preprocessing
and postprocessing functions. Which of the following functions is postprocessing -
Answers - Gray-scale map assignment
