ARDMS (American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography) Practice Test

Which of the following is NOT a key reason to perform an ultrasound-guided intervention?

1. To relieve symptoms such as fluid retention

2. To perform diagnostic assessments with better accuracy

3. To assess overall patient fitness for surgery

4. To facilitate targeted treatment procedures

The correct answer is: To assess overall patient fitness for surgery

The choice regarding the assessment of overall patient fitness for surgery is not considered a key reason for performing ultrasound-guided interventions. The primary purpose of ultrasound-guided interventions is to utilize real-time imaging to enhance diagnostic accuracy, streamline targeted treatment, and provide symptomatic relief, such as draining fluid collections. In contrast, evaluating a patient’s overall fitness for surgical procedures involves a broader consideration of the patient's medical history, physical examination findings, laboratory results, and possibly other imaging studies—not solely the use of ultrasound for guidance. Typically, this fitness assessment considers various factors beyond what can be evaluated through ultrasound, focusing more on the patient's systemic health rather than localized issues that ultrasound can address.