Color Comet-Tail Artifact: Clinical Applications

This article explores the circumstances under which the color comet-tail artifact occurs and illustrates the clinical value of the artifact. Subtle abnormalities on gray-scale sonograms often are better appreciated and understood when the color comet-tail artifact is present. This artifact often is helpful in situations in which gray-scale imaging does not provide adequate information for a conclusive diagnosis. Visualization of the color comet-tail artifact can improve diagnostic confidence in a wide spectrum of clinical conditions encountered in sonographic practice.