Prepare for the ARDMS (American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography) exam with these practice questions and answers. This guide covers ultrasound physics, abdominal imaging, OB/GYN, and vascular sonography.
Q: Sonographers should be aware of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Best practice while scanning is to avoid abducting the arm more than how many degrees?a. 50b. 90c. 30d. 40
Answer: c. 30
Q: Which action demonstrates best practice during ultrasound exams regarding the ALARA principle?a. The exposure time should be extended during the exam.b. use the lowest possible output power that provides a diagnostic image.c. use the lowest possible gain.d. Ensure that the time gain compensation (TGC is within acceptable limits.
Answer: b. use the lowest possible output power that provides a diagnostic image
Q: Which type of cavitation is the most concerning cause of bioeffects?a. Transientb. Absorptionc. Stabled. Thermal
Answer: a. transient
Q: Assuming an unfocused ultrasound beam, the American Institute of ultrasound in Medicine’s “statement on Mammalian Biological Effects of ultrasound In vivo” has confirmed that no bioeffects have been noted when the spatial pulse temporal average (SPTA) intensity is less than which value?a. 1 mW/cm2b. 100 W/cm2c. 1 W/cm2d. 100 mW/cm2
Answer: d. 100 mW/cm2
Q: A sonographer notices that the mechanical index (MI) is too high during an ultrasound. What would be the MOST appropriate modification that the sonographer can make?a. decrease receiver gainb. increase periodc. decrease the output powerd. decrease the frequency of the transducer
Answer: c. decrease the output power
Q: Select the technique that will generate the LEAST amount of exposure to thepatient.a. Spectral Dopplerb. Color flow Dopplerc. Grayscaled. M-mode
Answer: c. grayscale
Q: When a vibrating string or fluid pump is used to test system performance,what parameter is being tested?a. Dead zoneb. Doppler velocitiesc. Contrast resolutiond. Grayscale sensitivity
Answer: b. Doppler velocities
Q: A tissue-equivalent phantom is used to ensure the efficiency of theultrasound machine. Choose the resolution that is NOT tested with thisphantom.a. Temporalb. Contrastc. Axiald. Horizontal
Answer: a. temporal
Q: Which performance check describes the ability of the ultrasound machineto correctly visualize signals that are weaker than others?a. Accuracyb. Specificityc. Reliabilityd. Sensitivity
Answer: d. sensitivity
Q: What is the name of the recent technological advancement that is used on tissues such as the liver, breast, prostate, and thyroid to assess the stiffness of tissue or to better assess lesions?a. Contrast-enhanced ultrasoundb. Fusion imagingc. Elastographyd. Harmonics
Answer: c. elastography
Q: Which choice is NOT a true statement regarding this filling defect within the gallbladder?a. The filling defect displays a significant amount of attenuation.b. it has created an enhancement artifact.c. It has created a shadowing artifactd. Regions deeper than the filling defect are obscured.
Answer: b. it has created an enhancement artifact
Q: Which type of artifact appears echogenic and stems from gas bubbles as they vibrate due to the interaction with the ultrasound beam?a. Ring-down artifactb. edge shadowc. Crosstalkd. Slice thickness
Answer: a. ring-down artifact
Q: What is the fundamental reason that the power and intensity of the ultrasound beam diminish as it travels through tissue?a. Absorptionb. Cavitationc. Obstructiond. Acoustic impedance
Answer: a. absorption
Q: Select the modification that the sonographer can make to decrease the amount of attenuation as the ultrasound beam travels through tissues.a. Increase the imaging depth.b. Increase the frequency of the transducer.c. Decrease the output power.d. Decrease the frequency of the transducer.
Answer: d. decrease the frequency of the transducer
Q: Choose the ultrasound system function that enables the sonographer toadapt to the amount of attenuation that occurs with increasing depth.a. Focusingb. Receiver gainc. TGCd. Output power
Answer: c. TGC
Q: Assume that a sound beam is traveling in soft tissue. Calculate theattenuation coefficient if the frequency is 12 MHz.a. 12dB/cmb. 6 dB/cmc. 8 dB/cmd. 10 dB/cm
Answer: b. 6 dB/cm
Q: What is NOT a component of attenuation?a. Reflectionb. Scatteringc. Resolutiond. Absorption
Answer: c. resolution
Q: Impedance is NOT influenced by which component?a. The frequency of the transducerb. Densityc. Propagation speedd. Stiffness
Answer: a. the frequency of the transducer
Q: For reflection to take place, which situation must exist?a. The border of two different tissues must have different impedances.b. There must be Iittle difference of the impedances at soft-tissue boundaries.c. Normal incidence and identical impedances must be presentd. Oblique incidence must occur.
Answer: a. The border of two different tissues must have different impedances.
Q: While assuming continuous wave (cw) ultrasound, what is the duty factor(DF)?a. 0.2%b. l%c. 0%d. 100%
Answer: d. 100%
Q: What will happen to the duty factor (DF) if the system increases the pulserepetition frequency (PRF) ?a. DF remains the same.b. DF increases.c. DF is not related to PRF.d. DF decreases.
Answer: b. DF increases
Q: The best axial resolution will be apparent if the sonographer performs an exam with a transducer that has which characteristic?a. Longer pulse lengthb. Longer wavelengthc. Shorter pulse lengthd. More ringing in the pulse
Answer: c. Shorter pulse length
Q: Lateral resolution will be improved if the sonographer performs whichoperation?a. Decreases the scanning depthb. Increases the number of focal zonesc. Maximizes the output powerd. Uses a lower frequency
Answer: b. Increases the number of focal zones
Q: Which action will NOT increase (or improve) temporal resolution?a. Increase the imaging depth.b. Decrease the number of focal zones.c. Use a sector size that is narrow.d. Use a low line density.
Answer: a. Increase the imaging depth.
Q: Which name describes how the angles of the incident and transmissionbeams are related to the speed of the two media?a. Bernoulli’s principleb. Curie pointc. Huygens’ principled. Snell’s law
Answer: d. Snell’s law
Q: What can be done when investigating a possible kidney stone to betterdemonstrate shadowing from the stone when using a 3 MHz probe?a. Position the focal point deeper than the stone.b. Increase the amount of gain.c. Increase the frequency to 5 MHz.d. Decrease the output power of the system.
Answer: c. Increase the frequency to 5 MHz
Q: If the frequency is doubled, what effect will this have on the wavelength?a. It will remain the same.b. It doubles.c. It increases by a factor of 1.54.d. It is halved.
Answer: d. It is halved.
Q: Which part of the transducer is necessary to reduce the amount of ringing of the piezoelectric (PZT) crystal?a. Matching layerb. Backing materialc. Transducer housingd. Wire
Answer: b. Backing material
Q: A given frequency of sound is 4.5 MHz, and it has a wavelength of 0.8 mm.How thick should a manufacturer design the matching layer of a transducer inthis scenario?a. 0.4 mmb. 0.16 mmc. 0.2 mmd. 0.6 mm
Answer: c. 0.2 mm
Q: A sonographer is performing a renal ultrasound. Which transducerfrequency will generate the slowest speed of sound?a. All frequencies will travel at the same speed in the same tissue.b. 2 MHzc. 4.5 MHzd. 7 MHz
Answer: a. All frequencies will travel at the same speed in the same tissue.
Q: Transducers used in image production will have which characteristics?a. High Q-factor, wide bandwidthb. Low Q-factor, wide bandwidthc. Low Q-factor, narrow bandwidthd. High Q-factor, narrow bandwidth
Answer: b. Low Q-factor, wide bandwidth
Q: Which transducer produced the shape of this image?a. Linear sequential arrayb. Vector arrayc. Annular phased arrayd. Convex array
Answer: d. Convex array
Q: This malfunction takes place in which kind of transducer?a. Linear sequential arrayb. Annular phased arrayc. Convex sequential arrayd. Mechanical
Answer: b. Annular phased array
Q: Which statement is NOT true of a linear phased array transducer?a. The footprint tends to be small.b. It can alter the number of focal zones and the depth.c. The image is a rectangle.d. It uses electronic steering.
Answer: c. The image is a rectangle.
Q: Select the type of transducer that enables multi-focusing while beingsteered mechanically.a. Annular phased arrayb. Mechanicalc. Linear sequential arrayd. Convex sequential array
Answer: a. Annular phased array
Q: If the diameter of the PZT crystal is 13 mm, which sentence describes thesound wave’s diameter in the Fresnel zone?a. The sound beam will be half of the diameter of the crystal in the Fresnel zone.b. 13 mmc. 26 mmd. The sound wave narrows as it leaves the transducer.
Answer: d. The sound wave narrows as it leaves the transducer.
Q: The amount of divergence that occurs in the far field is determined by thesound wave’s frequency and which component?a. Line densityb. Focal zone depthc. Diameter of the crystald. Speed
Answer: c. Diameter of the crystal
Q: Select the type of transducer that produces an image that takes on the shape of a parallelogram when it is electronically steered.a. Linear phased arrayb. Linear sequential arrayc. Annular phased arrayd. Convex array
Answer: b. Linear sequential array
Q: Choose the type of transducer that lacks range resolution.a. Phased arrayb. Annular arrayc. Continuous wave (CW)d. Linear sequential array
Answer: c. Continuous wave (CW)
Q: In this phased array transducer, what direction will the beam be steered?a. 45 degrees to the rightb. Slightly to the leftc. Slightly to the rightd. 45 degrees to the left
Answer: d. 45 degrees to the left
Q: What configuration is necessary to focus the ultrasound wave in a linear phased array transducer?a. Electronic slopeb. Dynamic aperturec. PZT crystalsd. Electronic curve
Answer: d. Electronic curve
Q: Which parameter is decreased by the ultrasound machine to evade the possibility of range ambiguity when the imaging depth is increased?a. Number of scan linesb. Pulse repetition frequency (PRF)c. Pulse repetition period (PRP)d. Persistence
Answer: b. Pulse repetition frequency (PRF)
Q: Which phrase does NOT describe an effect that focusing has on the ultrasound beam?a. A bigger focal zoneb. Enhanced near zone resolutionc. Diminished lateral resolution of the far zoned. Results in a shorter near zone
Answer: a. A bigger focal zone
Q: Select the answer that best describes how B-mode will typically display blood vessels?a. Hyperechoicb. Isogenicc. Anechoicd. Heterogeneous
Answer: c. Anechoic
Q: How deep is a reflector if the go-return time of a sound wave is 39 us?a. 2cmb. 3cmc. 5cmd. 6cm
Answer: b. 3cm
Q: Why does grayscale imaging require the use of pulsed wave ultrasound?a. To optimize penetrationb. To optimize temporal resolutionc. To determine the bandwidthd. To determine the depth of the reflector
Answer: d. To determine the depth of the reflector
Q: Which system function is modified if the ultrasound user adjusts the receiver gain?a. Demodulationb. Rejectc. Amplificationd. Compression
Answer: c. Amplification
Q: When M-mode is employed during an echocardiogram, what information is depicted on the display?a. Depth and amplitudeb. Time and frequencyc. Amplitude, motion, and timed. Depth, time, and frequency
Answer: c. Amplitude, motion, and time
Q: If an ultrasound image displays high contrast, what correlates with the dynamic range?a. Wide dynamic rangeb. Narrow dynamic rangec. No effect on the ranged. A display of many shades of gray
Answer: b. Narrow dynamic range
Q: Which component of the ultrasound wave increases if the sonographerincreases the output gain?a. Pulse durationb. Frequencyc. Noised. Intensity
Answer: d. Intensity
Q: What is the name of the frequency used in tissue harmonics that is responsible for image production?a. Fundamental frequencyb. Spatial compoundingc. Overall gaind. Harmonic frequency
Answer: a. Fundamental frequency
Q: Which one of the following applies when using tissue harmonics to imagethe gallbladder?a. Use of lower frequenciesb. Use of higher frequenciesc. Decreased lateral resolutiond. Increased reverberation artifacts
Answer: b. Use of higher frequencies
Q: Which type of zoom is a preprocessing function that provides more pixelsin the region of interest, resulting in superior spatial resolution?a. Temporal resolutionb. Read zoomc. Write zoomd. Read magnification
Answer: c. Write zoom
Q: Which control on the ultrasound system should be adjusted if it is necessary to reduce the amount of noise in the image?a. Rejectb. Amplificationc. Compressiond. Demodulation
Answer: a. Reject
Q: During a renal ultrasound, the sonographer finds it necessary to adjustcontrols on the ultrasound system to improve the image. What CANNOT beadjusted by the operator?a. Output powerb. Amplitudec. Frequencyd. Speed
Answer: d. Speed
Q: What control offers better visualization of fibroids by increasing penetration far field and resolution?a. Persistenceb. Spatial compoundingc. Coded excitationd. Elastography
Answer: c. Coded excitation
Q: Which control can a sonographer apply to help delineate a subtle liver mass?a. Zoomb. Edge enhancementc. Fill-in interpolationd. Increase the receiver gain
Answer: b. Edge enhancement
Q: Which phrase correctly describes the following ultrasound beam?a. Unfocused, no steeringb. Focused, steered to the rightc. Unfocused, steered to the leftd. Focused, steered to the left
Answer: d. Focused, steered to the left
Q: What is the name of the approach to image production in which the reflected ultrasound beam is averaged among multiple frequencies to lessen the effects of noise and speckle in the image?a. Spatial compoundingb. Tissue harmonicsc. Frequency compoundingd. Temporal compounding
Answer: c. Frequency compounding
Q: What is a function of the receiver?a. It shapes the ultrasound beam.b. It controls the collaboration of the synergy of the ultrasound components.c. It stores images and video clips.d. It changes and displays the signal sent from the transducer to the monitor
Answer: d. It changes and displays the signal sent from the transducer to the monitor
Q: What is the correct order in which the receiver functions during imageproduction?a. Amplification, compensation, compression, demodulation, rejectb. Amplification, reject, demodulation, compensation, compressionc. Amplification, demodulation, compression, reject, compensationd. Amplification, compression, demodulation, reject, compensation
Answer: a. Amplification, compensation, compression, demodulation, reject
Q: Preprocessing functions occur before the data reaches which componentof the ultrasound system?a. Pulserb. Scan converterc. Receiverd. Beam former
Answer: b. Scan converter
Q: Which phrase describes the scenario in which persistence will be bestused?a. When persistence cannot be adjusted by the userb. During the interrogation of rapid blood flowc. During the interrogation of slow blood flowd. When more noise is desired during image production
Answer: c. During the interrogation of slow blood flow
Q: When using 3D ultrasound, what is the name of the smallest element of thepicture that is generated?a. Pixelb. Voxelc. Byted. Bit
Answer: b. Voxel
Q: Digital imaging systems require which component to link the ultrasoundsystem and the archiving network?a. BITb. RISc. PACSd. DICOM
Answer: d. DICOM
Q: Which component enables facilities that use digital imaging to archive andshare the images of exams performed in the department?a. RISb. PACSc. BITd. DICOM
Answer: b. PACS
Q: Which describes the progression in which a signal moves through an ultrasound machine?a. Scan converter, transducer, display, receiverb. Transducer, scan converter, display, receiverc. Scan converter, receiver, display, transducerd. Transducer, receiver, scan converter, display
Answer: d. Transducer, receiver, scan converter, display
Q: Which choice will optimize the spatial resolution?a. 1,500 x 1,500 analogb. 200 x 200 pixelsc. 800 x 800 pixelsd. 300 x 300 digital
Answer: a. 1,500 x 1,500 analog
Q: Which system control was used to create the following image?a. Elastographyb. Color Dopplerc. Extended field of view (EFOV)d. B-mode
Answer: c. Extended field of view (EFOV)
Q: Which region is NOT a component of a TGC curve?a. Phase quadratureb. Kneec. Near gaind. Slope
Answer: a. Phase quadrature
Q: If 3 bits of memory are available, what is the greatest number of shades of gray that are present in the scan converter?a. 4b. 8c. 16d. 32
Answer: b. 8
Q: The best contrast resolution will be available with which digital scanconverter?a. 4 bitsb. 256 shades of grayc. 32 shades of grayd. 16 bits
Answer: d. 16 bits
Q: Which scanning angles will provide the most significant amount of Dopplershift to measure the peak velocity during a carotid duplex ultrasound?a. 0 or 90 degreesb. 90 or 180 degreesc. 115 or 180 degreesd. 0 or 180 degrees
Answer: d. 0 or 180 degrees
Q: Which image demonstrates the correct placement of the gate to obtain themost accurate blood flow velocity measurement?
Answer: c
Q: Which of the following represents the approximate diameter reduction ofthe internal carotid artery (ICA) when evaluating the spectral waveform and peak systolic velocity (PSV) and end-diastolic velocity information?a. 25-49%b. 50-79%c. 80-99%d. 100%
Answer: c. 80-99%
Q: If a sonographer asks a patient to take in a deep breath and hold it, what isthe result of venous blood flow in the legs?a. The flow becomes turbulentb. The flow rate decreases.c. The flow rate increases.d. The flow becomes pulsatile.
Answer: b. The flow rate decreases.
Q: Which statement is true regarding these images?a. The blood flow represented in these vessels is considered to be laminar flow.b. The Reynolds number in these vessels is likely more than 2,000.c. The blood flow represented in these vessels will be chaotic.d. Eddy currents will likely be present within these blood vessels.
Answer: a. The blood flow represented in these vessels is considered to be laminar flow.
Q: If a carotid duplex exam is performed on a patient with a 7MHz transducer and a 14 MHz transducer, which transducer will display a shift that is greater?a. The 14 MHz transducerb. The Doppler shift is the same with both transducers.c. The 7 MHz transducerd. The Doppler shift cannot be identified with this information.
Answer: a. The 14 MHz transducer
Q: Which step CANNOT be used to correct the imaging error seen in the following tracing of the external carotid artery (ECA)?a. Switch to a lower frequency transducer.b. Move the baseline down.c. Reposition the gate to a location that is deeper.d. Increase the pulse repetition frequency (PRF) to its maximum value
Answer: c. Reposition the gate to a location that is deeper.
Q: While using pulsed wave Doppler, the sonographer believes that the measurements are not accurate. After switching to a 4.5 MHz continuous wave (CW) Doppler at a depth of 5 cm, what will the maximum velocity cap be?a. There will not be a maximum velocity cap with CW Doppler.b. 45 cm/sc. 150 cm/sd. This cannot be determined with the given information.
Answer: a. There will not be a maximum velocity cap with CW Doppler
Q: What will the aliasing frequency be if a renal artery duplex exam is performed at a depth of 6 cm, the length of the sample volume is 0.50 mm, and the pulse repetition frequency (PRF) is 8 kHz with the Doppler frequency at3.5 MHz?a. 3.5 MHzb. 8 kHzc. 7 MHzd. 4 kHz
Answer: d. 4 kHz
Q: Which statement is NOT true concerning color Doppler?a. Doppler frequency shift is reached with the use of the autocorrelationmethod.b. Aliasing may occur when using color Doppler.c. Color Doppler is a reliable method to measure the peak systolic and enddiastolic velocities.d. Range resolution exists with color Doppler.
Answer: c. Color Doppler is a reliable method to measure the peak systolic and enddiastolic velocities.
Q: If a sonographer must interrogate a blood vessel that displays slow flowonce color Doppler is applied, what should be done to the pulse repetitionfrequency (PRF) to improve the visualization of flow?a. Adjusting the PRF has no effect.b. Decrease the PRF.c. Increase the PRF.d. Adjusting the PRF will create aliasing.
Answer: b. Decrease the PRF.
Q: If the red blood cells are traveling away from the transducer, what type ofDoppler shift is present?a. Negativeb. Unequivocalc. Noned. Positive
Answer: a. Negative
Q: A sonographer has access to 10 MHz linear sequential, 7 MHz linearsequential, and 4.5 MHz curved array transducers. If the 10 MHz transducerproduces aliasing during a carotid duplex study, what can be done to alleviate this issue if a shallower window did NOT correct the problem?a. Switch to the 4.5 MHz curved array transducer.b. Neither of the two remaining transducers will resolve this issue.c. Switch to the 7 MHz linear sequential transducer.d. None of these transducers should be used for carotid duplex exams.
Answer: c. Switch to the 7 MHz linear sequential transducer.
Q: If the sonographer does not see any color flow when applied but could seemovement of blood cells within the vessel on grayscale imaging what should the operator assume?a. Power Doppler must be used instead.b. The angle of incidence is 90 degrees and needs to be changed.c. The blood vessel is obstructed.d. Maintenance must be called as the color Doppler is not sensitive enough.
Answer: b. The angle of incidence is 90 degrees and needs to be changed
Q: When using spectral Doppler, the sonographer notices information correlates with that lower velocities missing from the waveform, what control can be modified to demonstrate these velocities?a. Wall filterb. Scalec. Depthd. Gain
Answer: a. Wall filter
Q: If the Reynolds number is 2,078, what does this suggest?a. Plug flowb. Laminar flowc. Disturbed flowd. Turbulent flow
Answer: d. Turbulent flow
Q: The carotid artery is being examined with color Doppler. which artifact is present if the color appears to be bleeding outside of the vessel when color Doppler is applied?a. Clutterb. Crosstalkc. Ghostingd. Aliasing
Answer: c. Ghosting
Q: If a sonographer measures the peak systolic velocity (PSV) from the ICAand the spectral window appears filled in with blood moving in various directions, what does this indicate?a. Spectral broadeningb. Patent ICAc. The gain is set too high.d. Laminar flow
Answer: a. Spectral broadening
Q: The ultrasound operator is attempting to measure the velocity of flowwithin the femoral artery but is incidentally picking up signals within the femoral vein. Which control on the ultrasound system will enable thesonographer to adjust the position of the gate?a. Angle correctionb. Triplexc. Sweep speedd. Pulse repetition frequency (PRF)
Answer: b. Triplex
Q: If it is necessary to improve the frame rate during a color Doppler exam,which step is the best action to accomplish this?a. Angle the color box.b. Decrease the gain.c. Increase the depth in which the color box is located.d. Decrease the width of the color box
Answer: d. Decrease the width of the color box
Q: Which operator setting will increase the patient’s exposure during acarotid duplex exam?a. Increasing the Doppler angleb. Increasing the pulse repetition frequency (PRF)c. A higher baseline locationd. Increasing the Doppler gain
Answer: b. Increasing the pulse repetition frequency (PRF)
Q: Which operation will improve the frame rate when using color Doppler tointerrogate the ovaries?a. Change the color map.b. Increase the Packet sizec. Decrease the Packet size.d. Adjust the color Doppler gain.
Answer: c. Decrease the Packet size.
Q: Which is NOT a reason a sonographer would choose to use power Dopplerduring a renal duplex exam?a. The velocity of the blood is accurately measured with power Dopplerb. Aliasing will not occur with power Doppler.c. The sensitivity of power Doppler is greater than that of color Dopplerd. The amplitude of the signal is displayed with power Doppler
Answer: a. The velocity of the blood is accurately measured with power Doppler
Q: Aliasing is seen while scanning the femoral artery at a 3O-degree angle.Which step will correct this artifact?a. Reduce the angle of incidence.b. Increase the frequency of the transducer.c. Find a window that is deeper.d. Increase the pulse repetition frequency (PRF)
Answer: d. Increase the pulse repetition frequency (PRF)
Q: A sonographer uses the color map during a color Doppler exam of thecarotid artery and notices that the colors in the middle of the map appear to be communicating with each other. Which choice best describes this scenario?a. Aliasing is Present.b. The flow in the carotid artery is bidirectionalc. The flow in the carotid artery is unidirectionald. The wall filter is set too high.
Answer: b. The flow in the carotid artery is bidirectional
Q: When the screen is sector shaped, what can be modified when colorDoppler is used?a. Steering of the color boxb. Size and location of the color boxc. Shape of the color boxd. Velocity of the moving red blood cells
Answer: b. Size and location of the color box
Q: Which choice will improve the color fill of this blood vessel?a. Change the steering of the color box.b. Increase the output power.c. Change the window so the vessel is shallower.d. Decrease the color gain.
Answer: a. Change the steering of the color box.
Q: Which choice is NOT an instance of when a sonographer would expect tosee spectral broadening?a. When sampling the velocity within a tight stenosis of the internal carotidarteryb. When sampling the velocity distal to a tight stenosis of the external carotidarteryc. When measuring the velocity within a patent internal carotid arteryd. When sampling the velocity at the bifurcation of the carotid artery
Answer: c. When measuring the velocity within a patent internal carotid artery