What can you do to better visualize a sebaceous cyst on ultrasound?

• A. Use a stand-off pad
• B. Use a low-frequency probe
• C. Increase gain
• D. Apply Doppler imaging

Answer: (A)

Focusing on improving visualization of superficial skin lesions is key here. A stand-off pad provides an extra acoustic layer between the skin and the probe, which moves the focal point to the shallow depth where a sebaceous cyst sits. This reduces near-field clutter and beam widening, helping the ultrasound image resolve the lesion’s margins more clearly and show features like posterior acoustic enhancement and any internal debris. In practice, this makes the cyst appear more distinctly against the surrounding tissue.

Using a low-frequency probe would lessen image resolution for superficial structures, so it isn’t ideal. Increasing gain might brighten the image but doesn’t improve the depth-specific resolution or reveal finer details. Doppler imaging isn’t helpful for a typical sebaceous cyst, since these lesions are usually avascular; Doppler adds little value unless there’s concern for inflammatory hyperemia in an infected lesion.