Free Abdomen Practice Test

10 Free Abdomen Practice Questions

1. Low level, non-shadowing, gravity-dependent echoes within the gallbladder would be:

   1. Sludge
   2. Cholelithiasis
   3. Adenoma
   4. Cholesterolosis
   Show Answer & Explanation

   Correct answer: Sludge

   Gallbladder sludge appears as low-level debris within the gallbladder. It is mobile, gravity-dependent, and does not shadow.

2. ________ artifact is a result of the sound beam bouncing between two reflectors. Sonographically, it appears as multiple equally spaced echoes.

   1. Edge artifact
   2. Ring Down
   3. Reverberation
   4. Comet Tail
   Show Answer & Explanation

   Correct answer: Reverberation

   Reverberation artifact results from the sound beam bouncing between two strong reflectors.

3. What is located posterior to the prostate gland?

   1. Rectum
   2. Bladder
   3. Gallbladder
   4. Urethra
   Show Answer & Explanation

   Correct answer: Rectum

   When imaging the prostate, the rectum can be seen posterior to this structure.

4. What is the name of the sphincter muscle surrounding the hepatopancreatic ampulla?

   1. Ileocecal sphincter
   2. Pyloric sphincter
   3. Lower esophageal sphincter
   4. Sphincter of Oddi
   Show Answer & Explanation

   Correct answer: Sphincter of Oddi

   The sphincter of Oddi is a muscular valve which controls the flow of digestive contents through the ampulla of Vater and into the second part of the duodenum.

5. Neck muscles are ________ to the thyroid.

   1. Hypoechoic
   2. Hyperechoic
   3. Isoechoic
   4. Echogenic
   Show Answer & Explanation

   Correct answer: Hypoechoic

   Sonographically, muscles are hypoechoic.

6. Which of the following is true?

   1. The right lobe of the liver is divided into anterior and posterior segments by the right hepatic vein
   2. The left lobe of the liver is divided into medial and lateral segments by the falciform ligament
   3. The caudate lobe is separated from the left lobe by the ligamentum teres
   4. The left lobe of the liver is separated from the right lobe by the portal vein superiorly and the main lobar fissure inferiorly
   Show Answer & Explanation

   Correct answer: The right lobe of the liver is divided into anterior and posterior segments by the right hepatic vein

   The left lobe of the liver is divided into medial and lateral segments by the ligamentum teres and the left hepatic vein. The caudate lobe is separated from the left lobe by the ligamentum venosum. The left lobe of the liver is separated from the right lobe by the middle hepatic vein superiorly and main lobar fissure inferiorly. The right hepatic vein divides the right lobe of the liver into anterior and posterior.

7. Which of the following is not a risk factor for gallbladder carcinoma?

   1. Female
   2. Cholecystitis
   3. Cholelithiasis
   4. 50-60 years of age
   Show Answer & Explanation

   Correct answer: 50-60 years of age

   Gallbladder cancer is most commonly in females > 65 years old.

8. All of the following are sonographic features of breast malignancy EXCEPT:

   1. Angular margins
   2. Taller than wide
   3. Spiculation
   4. Enhancement
   Show Answer & Explanation

   Correct answer: Enhancement

   The Sonographic features of a breast mass that are indicative of malignancy are: spiculations, taller than wide, angular margins, hypoechoic, microcalcifications, shadowing, duct extensions, branching, and disruption of tissue planes.

9. Angiomyolipomas predominantly affect the:

   1. Right kidney
   2. Liver
   3. Pancreas
   4. Left kidney
   Show Answer & Explanation

   Correct answer: Right kidney

   Angiomyolipomas (AMLs) are benign renal tumors composed of adipose tissue, smooth muscle, and blood vessels. They are the most common benign mesenchymal tumors of the kidney and are typically discovered incidentally during imaging for unrelated reasons. Notably, studies have shown that up to 80% of sporadic angiomyolipomas occur in the right kidney. While the reason for this right-sided predominance is not definitively understood, it is a well-documented clinical observation. These tumors are more frequently seen in middle-aged women and may be solitary or associated with tuberous sclerosis, particularly when bilateral or multiple. The right-sided predilection of AMLs is clinically relevant for sonographers and interpreting physicians. On ultrasound, AMLs typically appear as well-defined, highly echogenic renal cortical masses, often without shadowing. However, their echogenicity may vary based on fat content, and large AMLs can lead to complications such as spontaneous hemorrhage, especially when greater than 4 cm in size. Understanding their common location in the right kidney helps guide targeted renal evaluation, especially when limited imaging time or patient condition necessitates focused scanning. Moreover, identifying AMLs correctly prevents unnecessary biopsy or intervention when typical imaging features are present.

10. Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) typically occurs in what zone?

    1. Fibromuscular
    2. Peripheral
    3. Transitional
    4. Central
    Show Answer & Explanation

    Correct answer: Transitional

    BPH occurs exclusively in the transitional zone of the prostate.