What does megahertz (MHz) indicate in ultrasound therapy?

What does megahertz (MHz) indicate in ultrasound therapy?

• A. The number of sound waves per second
• B. The energy level of the wave
• C. The depth of tissue penetration
• D. The beam's density

Answer: (A)

Megahertz shows how fast the ultrasound wave vibrates—it's the frequency, i.e., the number of million cycles per second. This tells you how quickly the wave oscillates and, in therapy, how deep and how well you can resolve the treated area: higher frequency means finer detail but shallower penetration, while lower frequency goes deeper but with less precision. It is not a measure of the energy delivered (that’s intensity) and it doesn’t describe beam density.

Megahertz shows how fast the ultrasound wave vibrates—it's the frequency, i.e., the number of million cycles per second. This tells you how quickly the wave oscillates and, in therapy, how deep and how well you can resolve the treated area: higher frequency means finer detail but shallower penetration, while lower frequency goes deeper but with less precision. It is not a measure of the energy delivered (that’s intensity) and it doesn’t describe beam density.