ARDMS (American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography) Practice Test

Which organ is primarily evaluated using a hepatic ultrasound?

1. The kidney

2. The liver

3. The heart

4. The pancreas

The correct answer is: The liver

A hepatic ultrasound is specifically designed to evaluate the liver, making it the foremost organ assessed during this imaging procedure. This type of ultrasound utilizes sound waves to create images of the liver’s structure and can help detect various liver conditions, such as fatty liver, cirrhosis, tumors, and other abnormalities. The liver's size, texture, and blood flow can be assessed, providing critical information about its health and functionality. This non-invasive imaging technique is fundamental in diagnosing and monitoring liver diseases, which is why the liver is the primary focus during a hepatic ultrasound. In contrast, the other options pertain to different organs that would require separate ultrasound evaluations specific to their anatomy and pathologies. For instance, assessing kidney issues would necessitate a renal ultrasound, while cardiac concerns would typically be examined through echocardiography. Similarly, the pancreas would be evaluated with abdominal ultrasound focusing on pancreatic conditions, but these fall outside the scope of a hepatic ultrasound.