Which of the following is a key limitation of ultrasound imaging?

The key limitation of ultrasound imaging lies in its depth of penetration. Ultrasound waves can effectively travel through soft tissues, but as they penetrate deeper into the body, their effectiveness diminishes due to attenuation, which involves the scattering and absorption of sound waves by tissues. This attenuation limits the ability to visualize deeper structures, which can be a significant challenge when imaging larger patients or certain areas of the body where deeper tissues need to be evaluated.

While ultrasound indeed excels with soft tissues, it is not restricted to this type alone, as it can also visualize certain structures like fluids and even some solid organs. The imaging is also real-time, which is one of its major advantages over other modalities. Additionally, although some ultrasound procedures use contrast agents, many applications do not require them, unlike some other imaging techniques that often necessitate contrast for adequate visualization of structures. Therefore, the limited depth of penetration stands out prominently as a significant limitation in ultrasound imaging.