The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) has published its first guideline dedicated exclusively to cardiac ultrasound artifacts, aiming to improve diagnostic accuracy and patient safety.
The document, "Recommendations for the Identification and Mitigation of Cardiac Ultrasound Artifacts," addresses artifacts across all echocardiographic modes -- including two-dimensional, spectral Doppler, color Doppler, and three-dimensional echocardiography. It details the visual characteristics of common artifacts, explains the mechanisms behind their generation, and outlines strategies for avoiding and mitigating them, according to the ASE. The guideline also includes real case examples and a collection of figures and videos for clinical reference.
Artifacts -- misleading or false image features arising from the physical properties of ultrasound -- can contribute to misdiagnoses of conditions such as aortic dissection and ventricular thrombus, the society said. The guideline was developed by a global team of ultrasound practitioners, according to the ASE.
