The reverberation “ladder” artifact in medical ultrasound appears as multiple equally spaced, parallel bright lines decreasing in intensity with depth. This artifact is a common “artifact” phenomenon resulting from the ultrasound beam repeatedly bouncing between two highly reflective, parallel surfaces within the body, such as air-filled structures or metallic objects.
This artifact can obscure underlying anatomy and lead to misdiagnosis. Understanding the characteristics of the reverberation “ladder” artifact is crucial for accurate interpretation of ultrasound images in various clinical scenarios, ensuring precise diagnostic assessment.