Refraction artifact

Last revised by Andrew Murphy on 2 Aug 2021

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

O'Gorman P, Hacking C, Mayhew P, et al. Refraction artifact. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 19 Apr 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-46914

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-46914

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/46914

rID:

46914

Article created:

23 Jul 2016, Patricia O'Gorman

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Patricia O'Gorman had no recorded disclosures.

View Patricia O'Gorman's current disclosures

Last revised:

2 Aug 2021, Andrew Murphy ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Andrew Murphy had no recorded disclosures.

View Andrew Murphy's current disclosures

Revisions:

4 times, by 4 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Sections:

Imaging Technology

Tags:

ultrasound, refraction

Synonyms:

Refraction artifact in ultrasound
Refraction artefact in ultrasound
Refraction artefact

Refraction artifact can occur when a transmitted ultrasound pulse strikes an interface at a non-perpendicular angle. The difference in propagation speeds between the two tissues can cause refraction to occur. Should the refracted incident sound wave strike a reflector and cause an echo to return to the transducer, this may be displayed at an incorrect location as the transducer assumes all echoes have traveled along a direct path.

Refraction artifact should resolve if the transducer is moved such that the incident pulse is perpendicular to the interface.