Question

Which step CANNOT be used to correct the imaging error seen in the following tracing of the external carotid artery (ECA)?

1) Switch to a lower frequency transducer.
2) Move the baseline down.
3) Reposition the gate to a location that is deeper.
4) Increase the pulse repetition frequency (PRF) to its maximum value

Answer 1

Increasing the pulse repetition frequency (PRF) to its maximum value in medical imaging won't correct external carotid artery tracing errors and may induce aliasing. Optimal corrections involve adjusting transducer frequency, baseline, and gate position for improved image quality.Option 4 is the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer is 4) Increase the pulse repetition frequency (PRF) to its maximum value.

In medical imaging, ultrasound scanners use pulse repetition frequency (PRF) to determine distances to reflecting surfaces in a patient. Increasing the PRF to its maximum value would not correct the imaging error seen in the tracing of the external carotid artery (ECA). The maximum PRF setting may cause aliasing, where the true flow is misrepresented and appears as a lower flow or as a reversed flow.

To correct the imaging error, other steps listed - switching to a lower frequency transducer, moving the baseline down, and repositioning the gate to a location that is deeper, could be used. These steps can help improve image quality and clarity by optimizing the sound waves sent and received by the ultrasound scanner.