ABSTRACT
Kremkau and Taylor (1) define imaging artifacts as display phenomena that do not represent, properly, the structures to be imaged. Imaging pitfalls include artifacts, but also relate to the misinterpretation of a properly represented structure, whether normal or pathologic. These obstacles to accurate image analysis are commonly encountered during transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). They must be recognized to avoid diagnostic errors. Imaging artifacts generally fall into four categories:
1. Structures that appear to be there when in fact they are not
2. Structures that do not appear to be there when in fact they are
3. Structures that look different from reality 4. Structures that appear to be in the wrong location
A thorough understanding of the types and mechanisms of echocardiographic artifacts allows one to distinguish them from real structures. This chapter focuses on the most prevalent artifacts and pitfalls encountered during TEE.
