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Abdomen ARDMS _ MOCK exam Questions
and Answers (Expert Solutions)
Q: Progression of which of the following abnormalities flattens the portal veins?,
🗹🗹: Biliary obstruction
Q: The wall thickness in a normal fasting gallbladder should not exceed, 🗹🗹: 3 mm
Q: This color Doppler sonogram is most likely demonstrating which of the following
abnormalities?, 🗹🗹: Pseudoaneurysm
This color Doppler image demonstrates turbulent swirling blood flow within a fluid
collection, classic sonographic findings of a common femoral artery pseudoaneurysm.
Q: A patient presents with sudden onset of upper abdominal pain. Ultrasound
demonstrates prominence in the stomach rugae. These findings are most suspicious for
which of the following conditions?, 🗹🗹: Gastritis
Prominence of the stomach rugae in a patient with upper abdominal pain is most
suspicious for gastritis. Hypervascular, thick gastric walls are sonographic findings
associated with gastric ulcers.
Q: Which of the following is a complication of acute pancreatitis?, 🗹🗹: Duodenal
obstruction
Complications of acute pancreatitis may include abscess formation, duodenal
obstruction, hemorrhage, phlegmon, and pseudocyst formation. Cholecystitis is a
possible etiology of acute pancreatitis.
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Q: A patient presents with a history of hematuria. The findings in this duplex image are
most suspicious for which of the following pathologies?, 🗹🗹: Carcinoma
A vascular echogenic mass is identified protruding from the posterior wall of the
urinary bladder. Bladder carcinoma commonly presents with a history of painless
hematuria. Based on the clinical history, the sonographic findings are suspicious for a
malignant mass.
Q: A sagittal sonogram medial to the porta hepatis is demonstrating which of the
following abnormalities?, 🗹🗹: Dilated common bile duct
A hypoechoic mass identified by the calipers is obstructing the common bile duct
resulting in dilatation. The mass is most likely a malignancy in the head of the pancreas.
Q: The pathology in this sonogram is most likely a/an, 🗹🗹: Pseudocyst
A complex fluid collection is identified posterior to the tail of the pancreas. This is most
likely a pancreatic pseudocyst. Phlegmons and islet cell tumors appear as hypoechoic
masses on ultrasound. A pancreatic hemorrhage is a differential consideration but not
the most likely pathology.
Q: Which of the following abnormalities is demonstrated in this transverse sonogram?,
🗹🗹: Stones in the duct of Wirsung
Multiple stones are located in main pancreatic duct (duct of Wirsung).
Q: Which of the following is a clinical symptom of hypothyroidism?, 🗹🗹: Muscle
cramps
Muscles cramping is a symptom of hypothyroidism. Other symptoms may include
weight gain, mental and physical lethargy, arthritis, skin dryness, feeling cold, slow
metabolic rate, and decreased heart rate. Symptoms commonly associated with
hyperthyroidism include weight loss, palpitations, nervousness, exophthalmos, constant
hunger, tremors, increased heart rate, and intolerance to heat.
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Q: A 20-year-old patient presents with a palpable left scrotal mass. The sonographic
findings are most suspicious for which of the following pathologies?, 🗹🗹: Malignant
neoplasm
A malignant neoplasm is the most likely diagnosis in a young adult demonstrating a
hypoechoic intratesticular mass. The patient is afebrile excluding a testicular abscess
from the differential considerations.
Q: A patient presents with a history of a palpable neck mass. Which of the following
terms best describes the sonographic findings?, 🗹🗹: Heterogeneous thyroid gland
The sonographer's technical report should describe the right thyroid lobe as
demonstrating an irregular and heterogeneous echo texture.
Q: A patient presents with a history of cirrhosis. The arrows are identifying the, 🗹🗹:
coronary ligament
A hyperechoic linear structure is identified dividing the right subphrenic space from the
subhepatic space. This is consistent with the right coronary ligament. The right
coronary ligament serves as a barrier between these two peritoneal spaces.
Q: This color Doppler sonogram is most likely demonstrating which of the following
abnormalities?, 🗹🗹: Patent umbilical vein
The sonogram is demonstrating a patent paraumbilical vein. Note the liver parenchyma
of the left lobe superior to the patent umbilical vein. Gastric varices are generally
located to the left of midline.
Q: Splenomegaly is a consistent finding in which of the following pathologies?, 🗹🗹:
Portal hypertension
Splenomegaly is a consistent finding in cases of portal hypertension.
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Q: A duplex image of the splenic vein is demonstrating, 🗹🗹: retrograde flow.
That's correct! The splenic vein normally flows toward the transducer, displaying a
waveform above the baseline (antegrade). In this case, the blood is flowing away from
the transducer back toward the spleen (retrograde).
Q: Which of the following structures separates the subphrenic space into two
compartments?, 🗹🗹: Falciform ligament
The falciform ligament divides the subphrenic space into right and left compartments.
The left coronary ligament suspends the left lobe of the liver from the diaphragm.
Q: An asymptomatic patient presents with a history of elevated liver function tests.
Based on this clinical history, the sonogram most likely demonstrates, 🗹🗹: fatty
infiltration
Fatty infiltration is the most likely diagnosis in an asymptomatic patient demonstrating
diffusely echogenic liver parenchyma. In addition, the portal veins are still clearly
visible, consistent with fatty infiltration.
Q: The subhepatic space communicates with the lesser sac through the foramen of,
🗹🗹: Winslow
The foramen of Winslow allows communication between the subhepatic space and
lesser sac.
Q: Which vascular structure courses posterior to the superior mesenteric artery and
anterior to the abdominal aorta?, 🗹🗹: Left renal vein
The left renal vein courses posterior to the superior mesenteric artery and anterior to
the abdominal aorta.
Abdomen ARDMS _ MOCK exam Questions
and Answers (Expert Solutions)
Q: Progression of which of the following abnormalities flattens the portal veins?,
🗹🗹: Biliary obstruction
Q: The wall thickness in a normal fasting gallbladder should not exceed, 🗹🗹: 3 mm
Q: This color Doppler sonogram is most likely demonstrating which of the following
abnormalities?, 🗹🗹: Pseudoaneurysm
This color Doppler image demonstrates turbulent swirling blood flow within a fluid
collection, classic sonographic findings of a common femoral artery pseudoaneurysm.
Q: A patient presents with sudden onset of upper abdominal pain. Ultrasound
demonstrates prominence in the stomach rugae. These findings are most suspicious for
which of the following conditions?, 🗹🗹: Gastritis
Prominence of the stomach rugae in a patient with upper abdominal pain is most
suspicious for gastritis. Hypervascular, thick gastric walls are sonographic findings
associated with gastric ulcers.
Q: Which of the following is a complication of acute pancreatitis?, 🗹🗹: Duodenal
obstruction
Complications of acute pancreatitis may include abscess formation, duodenal
obstruction, hemorrhage, phlegmon, and pseudocyst formation. Cholecystitis is a
possible etiology of acute pancreatitis.
, Page | 2
Q: A patient presents with a history of hematuria. The findings in this duplex image are
most suspicious for which of the following pathologies?, 🗹🗹: Carcinoma
A vascular echogenic mass is identified protruding from the posterior wall of the
urinary bladder. Bladder carcinoma commonly presents with a history of painless
hematuria. Based on the clinical history, the sonographic findings are suspicious for a
malignant mass.
Q: A sagittal sonogram medial to the porta hepatis is demonstrating which of the
following abnormalities?, 🗹🗹: Dilated common bile duct
A hypoechoic mass identified by the calipers is obstructing the common bile duct
resulting in dilatation. The mass is most likely a malignancy in the head of the pancreas.
Q: The pathology in this sonogram is most likely a/an, 🗹🗹: Pseudocyst
A complex fluid collection is identified posterior to the tail of the pancreas. This is most
likely a pancreatic pseudocyst. Phlegmons and islet cell tumors appear as hypoechoic
masses on ultrasound. A pancreatic hemorrhage is a differential consideration but not
the most likely pathology.
Q: Which of the following abnormalities is demonstrated in this transverse sonogram?,
🗹🗹: Stones in the duct of Wirsung
Multiple stones are located in main pancreatic duct (duct of Wirsung).
Q: Which of the following is a clinical symptom of hypothyroidism?, 🗹🗹: Muscle
cramps
Muscles cramping is a symptom of hypothyroidism. Other symptoms may include
weight gain, mental and physical lethargy, arthritis, skin dryness, feeling cold, slow
metabolic rate, and decreased heart rate. Symptoms commonly associated with
hyperthyroidism include weight loss, palpitations, nervousness, exophthalmos, constant
hunger, tremors, increased heart rate, and intolerance to heat.
, Page | 3
Q: A 20-year-old patient presents with a palpable left scrotal mass. The sonographic
findings are most suspicious for which of the following pathologies?, 🗹🗹: Malignant
neoplasm
A malignant neoplasm is the most likely diagnosis in a young adult demonstrating a
hypoechoic intratesticular mass. The patient is afebrile excluding a testicular abscess
from the differential considerations.
Q: A patient presents with a history of a palpable neck mass. Which of the following
terms best describes the sonographic findings?, 🗹🗹: Heterogeneous thyroid gland
The sonographer's technical report should describe the right thyroid lobe as
demonstrating an irregular and heterogeneous echo texture.
Q: A patient presents with a history of cirrhosis. The arrows are identifying the, 🗹🗹:
coronary ligament
A hyperechoic linear structure is identified dividing the right subphrenic space from the
subhepatic space. This is consistent with the right coronary ligament. The right
coronary ligament serves as a barrier between these two peritoneal spaces.
Q: This color Doppler sonogram is most likely demonstrating which of the following
abnormalities?, 🗹🗹: Patent umbilical vein
The sonogram is demonstrating a patent paraumbilical vein. Note the liver parenchyma
of the left lobe superior to the patent umbilical vein. Gastric varices are generally
located to the left of midline.
Q: Splenomegaly is a consistent finding in which of the following pathologies?, 🗹🗹:
Portal hypertension
Splenomegaly is a consistent finding in cases of portal hypertension.
, Page | 4
Q: A duplex image of the splenic vein is demonstrating, 🗹🗹: retrograde flow.
That's correct! The splenic vein normally flows toward the transducer, displaying a
waveform above the baseline (antegrade). In this case, the blood is flowing away from
the transducer back toward the spleen (retrograde).
Q: Which of the following structures separates the subphrenic space into two
compartments?, 🗹🗹: Falciform ligament
The falciform ligament divides the subphrenic space into right and left compartments.
The left coronary ligament suspends the left lobe of the liver from the diaphragm.
Q: An asymptomatic patient presents with a history of elevated liver function tests.
Based on this clinical history, the sonogram most likely demonstrates, 🗹🗹: fatty
infiltration
Fatty infiltration is the most likely diagnosis in an asymptomatic patient demonstrating
diffusely echogenic liver parenchyma. In addition, the portal veins are still clearly
visible, consistent with fatty infiltration.
Q: The subhepatic space communicates with the lesser sac through the foramen of,
🗹🗹: Winslow
The foramen of Winslow allows communication between the subhepatic space and
lesser sac.
Q: Which vascular structure courses posterior to the superior mesenteric artery and
anterior to the abdominal aorta?, 🗹🗹: Left renal vein
The left renal vein courses posterior to the superior mesenteric artery and anterior to
the abdominal aorta.
