ITGSS Certified Technical Associate: Emerging Tech Practice Test

What is the appearance of a benign process when assessed with elastography compared to ultrasound?

1. Same size as the ultrasound

2. Bigger in size than the ultrasound

3. Smaller in size than the ultrasound

4. Can vary from patient to patient

The correct answer is: Smaller in size than the ultrasound

When assessing a benign process with elastography compared to ultrasound, the appearance is typically characterized by the tissue’s elasticity and stiffness rather than just size. Benign lesions often exhibit properties that allow them to appear different based on their composition and structure, which can be detected using elastography. Elastography provides valuable information about the stiffness of tissue, which may lead to the perception that benign lesions are smaller or less concerning on elastography than they may appear on traditional ultrasound imaging. This stems from benign lesions often being softer than malignancies, leading to a lower likelihood of being classified as significant, even if they are the same size on ultrasound. This understanding reflects the characteristic of benign lesions to often demonstrate a more favorable risk profile when assessed with elastography. In some cases, it may be the properties of the surrounding tissue or the way the lesion interacts with the elastic properties of the surrounding material that leads to this smaller perceived size during an elastographic assessment. Thus, benign processes can indeed present as smaller in size when evaluated with elastography, complementing the traditional size assessment done via ultrasound.