What are artifacts in ultrasound imaging?

Artifacts in ultrasound imaging refer to unwanted echoes that can distort the images produced. These artifacts can arise from various factors such as the physical properties of the ultrasound waves, the patient's anatomy, or the equipment itself. They can lead to misinterpretation of the images by creating false structures, shadows, or areas of unexpected brightness or darkness.

Understanding artifacts is crucial for clinicians and technicians to accurately interpret ultrasound results. While measurable units of sound waves, specific patterns indicative of disease, and visual markers used for image calibration may relate to ultrasound in some capacity, they do not define artifacts. The presence of artifacts can complicate the diagnosis, and recognizing them is key to ensuring that ultrasound images are interpreted correctly.