title: [Ultrasound artifacts as differential diagnostic problems in ultrasound of the upper abdomen].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The word artifact stands for any visible result of imaging procedures which is caused by the procedure itself and not the entity being analyzed. Recognition of artifacts in everyday work is of great significance for final diagnosis, since their wrong interpretation not only compromises the value of ultrasound finding, but may also lead to a wrong therapeutic approach.
  Artifacts appear as the result of physical properties of an ultrasound beam, technical aspects of ultrasound apparatus and immobility in creation of ultrasound image. Artifacts in the form of acoustic shadows, acoustic enhancements and reverberation most commonly appear and lead to changed appearance of certain structures. That is why great experience and knowledge of radiologists-ultrasonographists is necessary, since diagnostic accuracy of the method itself is under their immediate control. Incorrect interpretation of artifacts and failure to recognize them reduces the value of ultrasound imaging which has, during the past 25 years, confirmed its exceptional diagnostic value.
authors.affiliation: Klinicki centar "Novi Sad", Novi Sad, Institut za radiologiju. dulija@eunet.yu
authors.forename: Dusan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hadnadev
authors.forename: Sanja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stojanović
authors.forename: Mira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Govorcin
authors.forename: Viktorija
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vucaj
authors.forename: Dijana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nićiforović
authors.forename: Dusan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kozić
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016477:Artifacts; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D014463:Ultrasonography