Prostate Ultrasound Artifacts and How to Fix Them

Abstract

A thorough understanding of the physics of artifacts is critical to producing good quality images that give a true understanding of the underlying structures of the prostate. Artifacts in ultrasound can be defined as depictions of structures or processes that do not accurately reflect the true underlying structure or process. That is, the ultrasound waves once transmitted are altered during transit inside the body in a manner that makes the returning waves and resultant image a distortion of the underlying reality. Thus, an artifact is not an error or mistake, just a logical misrepresentation based on the physics of ultrasound.

Once understood, artifacts may not only be corrected, but used to gain additional clinical insight. Artifacts in prostate ultrasound scanning can usually be overcome by changing probe position or eliminating interfaces with large impedance differences (e.g., air–tissue or fluid–tissue interfaces).

The most effective way to approach artifacts is to (1) recognize and define them, (2) consider the possible physical and mechanical explanations for them, (3) make adjustments in technique and machine settings to correct or minimize them, if appropriate, and (4) derive any additional useful clinical information from them. Examples of several types of artifacts are discussed along with techniques for how to correct or account for the artifact.