A multipath artifact in medical ultrasound occurs when sound waves travel along indirect paths, bouncing off multiple structures before returning to the transducer. This creates spurious echoes that are incorrectly positioned on the image, often appearing deeper than the true anatomy. These artifacts can obscure real pathology or mimic additional structures, making accurate diagnosis challenging and potentially leading to misinterpretations in various ultrasound examinations.
Understanding and identifying multipath artifacts is crucial for accurate medical ultrasound interpretation and patient care. Factors like strong reflectors (e.g., bone, air) and complex anatomical pathways contribute to their formation. Sonographers and radiologists must recognize these imaging distortions to differentiate them from genuine anatomical features and optimize scan parameters for clearer, more reliable diagnostic images.
