What type of artifact might occur from improper transducer positioning?

The situation described relates to shadowing artifact, which can occur due to improper transducer positioning. When the transducer is poorly aligned with the ultrasound beam’s path, it can result in a situation where sound waves are blocked by a dense structure, such as calcifications or other highly reflective tissues. This blockage prevents the sound waves from adequately penetrating the underlying tissues, creating a shadowing effect on the ultrasound image. Consequently, structures located behind these dense tissues may appear darker, leading to a loss of detail that can obscure valuable diagnostic information.

Understanding how transducer positioning affects image acquisition is crucial for obtaining accurate and reliable ultrasound data. Properly aligning the transducer ensures that sound waves can propagate effectively through the tissues and return echoes are received appropriately, minimizing artifacts like shadowing that can complicate interpretation and evaluation.