BREAST ARDMS Comprehensive Exam Review Guide:
350+ Questions & Answers Updated Summer 2024.
Average propagation speed through soft tissue
1540m/s
Tissues with greater density (bone) have a higher propagation speed causing structures to appear
more
Superficial
Tissues with lesser density (silicone implants) have lower propagation speeds causing structures to
appear too
Deep
Artifact caused by a difference in propagation speed causing structures to appear too superficial or
deep
Propagation speed error
Optimal transducer frequency for broad-bandwidth breast imaging
10MHz (or 7.5-13MHz with a 1.5cm fixed elevation plane focus)
Ability of a sono system to distinguish moving structures or dynamics over time
Temporal resolution
What type of resolution is not affected by scanning superficial structures
Temporal resolution
Relates to the amplitude of a transmitted voltage and affects the actual intensity of the beam
Output power
Number of gray shades- measure of magnitude of signals
Dynamic range
Expressed in decibels (dB)
Dynamic range
Ratio of smallest to largest signal that a system can receive, process and display without disruption
Dynamic range
Examiner can adjust dynamic range (shades of gray) with two settingsb
TGC and threshold compression settings
,A low amplitude signal is shown as
Black
A high amplitude signal is shown as
White
When a patient hums with power Doppler to distinguish a mass from normal tissue
Fremitus
A standoff pad must not exceed this size in order to not affect the fixed elevation plane focus
1cm
Type of probe that sonographer cannot vary focus
Mechanical sector
Three settings that affect amplitude
Power, overall gain, TGC
Applies voltage
Power
Affects the brightness of echoes
Overall gain
Affects brightness of echoes at different depths
TGC
Frequency causing less penetration and better resolution
High
Frequency causing more penetration and decreased resolution
Low
123 of the ABC-123 method indicates
Distance from nipple
ABC of 123-ABC method indicates
Depth
Position best for scanning medial breast due to flattening medial breast and continuity with chest wall
Supine
, Technique for scanning the main breast duct and nipple in which the nipple is rolled over the index
finger
Two-handed technique
Probe allowing for imaging perpendicular to chest wall, good near field imaging, reliable
measurements due to less beam divergence, and frequency and focus options
10MHz linear array
Affected by changing the number of focal zones, depth and size of image
Frame rate
Mammo marker is placed in the region toward the
Axilla
Spectrum of frequencies
Bandwidth
Relationship between frequency and axial resolution
Direct
Relationship between frequency and lateral resolution
Direct
Relationship between frequency and penetration
Inverse
Relationship between depth and frame rate
Inverse
Doppler aiding visualization of small tortuous vessels
Power Doppler
Doppler that sensitive to low flow, not angle dependent and gives no information on direction of flow
Power Doppler
Breast tissue exhibiting medium level gray
Fat
Three breast layers
Subcutaneous, mammary, retromammary
Breast layer containing skin and fat
350+ Questions & Answers Updated Summer 2024.
Average propagation speed through soft tissue
1540m/s
Tissues with greater density (bone) have a higher propagation speed causing structures to appear
more
Superficial
Tissues with lesser density (silicone implants) have lower propagation speeds causing structures to
appear too
Deep
Artifact caused by a difference in propagation speed causing structures to appear too superficial or
deep
Propagation speed error
Optimal transducer frequency for broad-bandwidth breast imaging
10MHz (or 7.5-13MHz with a 1.5cm fixed elevation plane focus)
Ability of a sono system to distinguish moving structures or dynamics over time
Temporal resolution
What type of resolution is not affected by scanning superficial structures
Temporal resolution
Relates to the amplitude of a transmitted voltage and affects the actual intensity of the beam
Output power
Number of gray shades- measure of magnitude of signals
Dynamic range
Expressed in decibels (dB)
Dynamic range
Ratio of smallest to largest signal that a system can receive, process and display without disruption
Dynamic range
Examiner can adjust dynamic range (shades of gray) with two settingsb
TGC and threshold compression settings
,A low amplitude signal is shown as
Black
A high amplitude signal is shown as
White
When a patient hums with power Doppler to distinguish a mass from normal tissue
Fremitus
A standoff pad must not exceed this size in order to not affect the fixed elevation plane focus
1cm
Type of probe that sonographer cannot vary focus
Mechanical sector
Three settings that affect amplitude
Power, overall gain, TGC
Applies voltage
Power
Affects the brightness of echoes
Overall gain
Affects brightness of echoes at different depths
TGC
Frequency causing less penetration and better resolution
High
Frequency causing more penetration and decreased resolution
Low
123 of the ABC-123 method indicates
Distance from nipple
ABC of 123-ABC method indicates
Depth
Position best for scanning medial breast due to flattening medial breast and continuity with chest wall
Supine
, Technique for scanning the main breast duct and nipple in which the nipple is rolled over the index
finger
Two-handed technique
Probe allowing for imaging perpendicular to chest wall, good near field imaging, reliable
measurements due to less beam divergence, and frequency and focus options
10MHz linear array
Affected by changing the number of focal zones, depth and size of image
Frame rate
Mammo marker is placed in the region toward the
Axilla
Spectrum of frequencies
Bandwidth
Relationship between frequency and axial resolution
Direct
Relationship between frequency and lateral resolution
Direct
Relationship between frequency and penetration
Inverse
Relationship between depth and frame rate
Inverse
Doppler aiding visualization of small tortuous vessels
Power Doppler
Doppler that sensitive to low flow, not angle dependent and gives no information on direction of flow
Power Doppler
Breast tissue exhibiting medium level gray
Fat
Three breast layers
Subcutaneous, mammary, retromammary
Breast layer containing skin and fat
