ARDMS (American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography) Practice Test

What types of procedures fall under ultrasound-guided intervention?

1. Only diagnostic imaging procedures

2. Surgeries that require general anesthesia

3. Procedures such as biopsies or drainage of fluid collections

4. Electrocardiogram monitoring

The correct answer is: Procedures such as biopsies or drainage of fluid collections

Ultrasound-guided interventions refer to minimally invasive procedures that utilize ultrasound imaging to precisely guide instruments or needles to specific locations within the body. This technique enhances the accuracy and safety of procedures that require access to soft tissues. Biopsies are a prime example of ultrasound-guided interventions, where ultrasound imaging helps to ensure that the needle is positioned correctly to obtain a tissue sample from a suspicious area. Similarly, draining fluid collections, such as abscesses or cysts, is another common procedure performed under ultrasound guidance, allowing healthcare providers to effectively locate and access the area needing intervention. Contrasting with this, diagnostic imaging procedures alone do not typically involve any intervention but rather serve to visualize and assess conditions without performing a procedure. Surgeries requiring general anesthesia are more extensive and do not commonly utilize ultrasound guidance in the way that minimally invasive procedures do. Lastly, electrocardiogram monitoring is unrelated to ultrasound and focuses on the electrical activity of the heart, further distinguishing it from the range of procedures that utilize ultrasound guidance. Thus, those procedures, especially biopsies and fluid drainage, clearly fall under the umbrella of ultrasound-guided interventions.