What appearance does a cyst typically have on ultrasound?

Study for the Image Modalities Test. Learn with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each comes with hints and explanations. Get ready for your credentialing exam in the field of medical imaging!

Multiple Choice

What appearance does a cyst typically have on ultrasound?

Explanation:
Fluid-filled cysts appear anechoic on ultrasound, meaning they look completely black on the gray-scale image. This occurs because the fluid content reflects very few echoes back to the transducer. A simple cyst also often has a thin, well-defined wall and shows posterior acoustic enhancement, where the area behind the cyst looks brighter due to transmission of sound through the fluid with little attenuation. If a cyst isn’t simple—such as when it contains debris, blood, or infection—it may develop internal echoes and no longer appear completely anechoic.

Fluid-filled cysts appear anechoic on ultrasound, meaning they look completely black on the gray-scale image. This occurs because the fluid content reflects very few echoes back to the transducer. A simple cyst also often has a thin, well-defined wall and shows posterior acoustic enhancement, where the area behind the cyst looks brighter due to transmission of sound through the fluid with little attenuation. If a cyst isn’t simple—such as when it contains debris, blood, or infection—it may develop internal echoes and no longer appear completely anechoic.

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