Ultrasound artifacts affecting the diagnosis of breast masses.

An investigation of the outcome of over 1600 breast ultrasound examinations revealed a number of scanning artifacts. Artifactual echoes in cysts resulted from inappropriate scanning factors, including focal zone placement, gain, TGC, and gray scale, and from partial volume effect. The absence of a sign suspicious for carcinoma, posterior shadowing to a solid mass, resulted from faulty focal zone placement, or from the mass resting on chest wall tissue. Pathology was sometimes simulated by postsurgical scars, ducts, and benign calcifications. Corrective procedures to alleviate the various scanning artifacts are recommended.