How does obesity affect sonography imaging quality?

Obesity can significantly affect sonography imaging quality, primarily due to the physical properties of body tissues. As body fat increases, it introduces additional layers of tissue that ultrasound waves must penetrate. This results in increased tissue attenuation, which is the weakening of sound waves as they travel through different types of tissue.

The additional layers of fatty tissue can absorb and scatter ultrasound waves, making it more challenging to obtain clear and accurate images of deeper structures. Consequently, the typical resolution of the ultrasound may diminish, leading to less clarity in the images produced. This phenomenon is why understanding the impact of body composition is crucial for sonographers when evaluating imaging quality and making clinical decisions.