What diagnostic ultrasound range in MHz is typical?

• A. 1-5
• B. 20-50
• C. 2-20
• D. 50-100

Answer: (C)

Diagnostic ultrasound balances how clearly structures are seen with how deeply the sound can travel. Higher frequency waves give sharper detail but don’t penetrate as far, while lower frequencies go deeper but with less resolution. For most clinical imaging, transducers operate in the low to mid megahertz range, commonly about 2 to 20 MHz. This window provides enough depth for typical organs and body parts while still delivering useful image quality. Frequencies below this, like 1–5 MHz, are used for very deep targets but sacrifice resolution, whereas frequencies well above this, such as 20–50 MHz or higher, don’t reach deeper tissues effectively. So, the standard diagnostic ultrasound range is roughly 2–20 MHz.