ARRT Sonography Practice Questions (2026) — Free Sample Questions with Answers

Answer: C

Low-level disinfection with a germicidal wipe, because the intact cover prevented contact: Incorrect. Probe covers can have undetected perforations, so an endocavitary transducer is still treated as semicritical regardless of an intact-appearing cover.

Cleaning with soap and water only, since the transducer touched intact skin: Incorrect. An endocavitary probe contacts mucous membranes, not intact skin; soap and water alone does not meet the standard for semicritical devices.

High-level disinfection after cleaning, because the probe contacts mucous membranes: Correct. Under the Spaulding classification, devices contacting mucous membranes are semicritical and require cleaning followed by high-level disinfection after every use, even with a cover.

Steam sterilization in an autoclave, because the probe enters a body cavity: Incorrect. Ultrasound transducers would be damaged by steam autoclaving, and sterilization is required for critical devices entering sterile tissue, not for transvaginal probes.

Spaulding: critical (sterile tissue) → sterilize; semicritical (mucous membranes, e.g., TV/TR probes) → high-level disinfection; noncritical (intact skin) → low-level disinfection.

Answer: C

Increase the spectral Doppler gain: Incorrect. Gain changes the brightness of the spectrum but does not change the Nyquist limit, so the waveform would still wrap.

Increase the wall filter setting: Incorrect. The wall filter removes low-frequency signals near the baseline; it does not raise the maximum measurable velocity.

Increase the velocity scale (PRF): Correct. Aliasing occurs when the Doppler shift exceeds the Nyquist limit (PRF ÷ 2); raising the scale increases PRF and the Nyquist limit so the peak is displayed correctly.

Increase the sample volume depth: Incorrect. Greater depth lengthens pulse travel time and lowers the maximum PRF, which worsens aliasing rather than correcting it.

Fix aliasing by raising the scale/PRF, lowering the baseline, reducing depth, using a lower-frequency transducer, or switching to continuous-wave Doppler.

Answer: D

Phasic flow that varies with respiration: Incorrect. Respiratory phasicity is a normal finding indicating patent veins between the probe and the heart.

Complete coaptation of the walls with probe pressure: Incorrect. Complete collapse of the vein with gentle compression indicates the absence of thrombus at that level.

Augmented flow with distal calf squeeze: Incorrect. Augmentation on distal compression indicates patency of the vein segment between the probe and the squeezed area.

Lack of full compressibility of the vein: Correct. Inability to fully collapse the vein with transverse compression is the key criterion for DVT, often with a distended vein and intraluminal echoes.

Compression is the cornerstone of DVT diagnosis: a normal vein collapses completely in transverse view; a noncompressible vein contains thrombus.

Answer: C

8/8: Incorrect. Fetal breathing scores 2 only if at least one episode lasts 30 seconds or longer; a 20-second episode scores 0.

4/8: Incorrect. This removes points for both breathing and tone, but one opening-closing hand movement meets the tone criterion.

6/8: Correct. Movement (≥3), tone (≥1 extension-flexion, including hand opening/closing) and fluid (pocket ≥2 cm) each score 2; breathing (<30 seconds) scores 0, giving 6/8.

2/8: Incorrect. This credits only amniotic fluid; three body movements and one hand opening-closing episode both meet their criteria.

BPP (2 points each): breathing ≥30 s, ≥3 body/limb movements, ≥1 extension-flexion, deepest pocket >2 cm, plus reactive NST. Observe for up to 30 minutes.

Answer: D

It is suspicious only, so a repeat scan in 7–10 days is required: Incorrect. Follow-up imaging is advised for findings suspicious for failure, such as CRL under 7 mm without a heartbeat; 8 mm meets the definitive criterion.

It is diagnostic of an anembryonic pregnancy: Incorrect. Anembryonic pregnancy means no embryo is present, as with a mean sac diameter of 25 mm or more without an embryo; here an embryo is seen.

It is normal, since cardiac activity is not seen until 10 mm: Incorrect. Cardiac activity is usually visible by a CRL of a few millimeters; absent activity at 7 mm or more is abnormal.

It is diagnostic of pregnancy failure (embryonic demise): Correct. Under SRU consensus criteria, a CRL of 7 mm or greater with no heartbeat is diagnostic of a failed pregnancy.

Definitive pregnancy failure: CRL ≥7 mm without heartbeat, or MSD ≥25 mm without an embryo (plus timing-based criteria). Smaller measurements are only suspicious and need follow-up.

Answer: A

Acute calculous cholecystitis: Correct. Gallstones plus a positive sonographic Murphy sign, wall thickening over 3 mm and pericholecystic fluid form the classic sonographic picture of acute cholecystitis.

Adenomyomatosis of the gallbladder: Incorrect. Adenomyomatosis shows wall thickening with comet-tail artifacts from cholesterol in Rokitansky-Aschoff sinuses, usually without fever or focal tenderness.

Porcelain gallbladder: Incorrect. Porcelain gallbladder is calcification of the wall producing a curvilinear echogenic rim with shadowing, not mobile stones with a tender, thickened wall.

Uncomplicated tumefactive sludge: Incorrect. Sludge is nonshadowing, layering echogenic bile; it does not explain fever, focal tenderness or pericholecystic fluid.

Acute cholecystitis: stones (often impacted in the neck) + sonographic Murphy sign are the most predictive findings; wall thickening (>3 mm) and pericholecystic fluid are supportive.