Artifacts

Question 1

Dark or Black Marks

Answer 1

Caused by:
-Developer splash

• Fingerprints from excessive pressure
• Crescent marks due to bending of film
• Edge of film black due to light leak
• Static electricity

Question 2

Developer Splash

Answer 2

Looks like: Dark or black marks

• Do not splash developer
• Keep developer off of hands

Question 3

Fingerprints from excessive pressure

Answer 3

Looks like: Dark or black marks

-Handle film carefully

Question 4

Crescent marks due to bending of film

Answer 4

Looks like: Dark or black marks

-Handle film carefully

Question 5

Edge of film black due to light leak

Answer 5

Looks like: Dark or black marks

• Make sure cassette closes properly and is not warped
• Replace felt lining if damaged

Question 6

Static electricity

Answer 6

Looks like: Dark or black marks

• Raise the humidity in the room
• Handle carefully
• Don’t slide across surfaces
• Clean intensifying screens

Question 7

Light or white marks

Answer 7

Caused by (Unexposed film):
-Fixer or water splash

• Dirt or debris on intensifying screen (sharp margins)
• Fingerprints
• Localized areas of no development due to air bubbles on film during processing, “air bells”
• Kissing marks from films touching during development
• Emulsion scratches
• Foreign objects on patient or table (margins blurred)

Question 8

Fixer or water splash

Answer 8

Looks like: Light or white marks

-Clean screens regularly

Question 9

Dirt or debris on intensifying screen

Answer 9

Looks like: Light or white marks

-sharp margins

Question 10

Fingerprints

Answer 10

Looks like: Light or white marks

-Handle film by corners

Question 11

Localized area of no development

Answer 11

Looks like: Light or white marks

• Due to air bubbles on film during processing
• “air bells”
• Agitate developer solution during processing

Question 12

Kissing markings

Answer 12

Looks like: Light or white marks

• From films touching during development
• Make sure you wait until automatic processor has beeped before putting in next film

Question 13

Emulsion scratches

Answer 13

Looks like: Light or white marks

• Handle we film carefully
• Properly store developed film

Question 14

Foreign objects on patient or table

Answer 14

Looks like: Light or white marks

• Margins blurred
• Clean table, v-troughs, sponges after use, brush off patient, remove collar, sandbags, etc.

Question 15

Stains on films

Answer 15

Caused by:

• Most stains are due to insufficient rinsing during manual processing.
• Rinse film well, change chemicals regularly, stir chemicals before use.

Question 16

Radiographs is “too dark”

Answer 16

Caused by:
-Film overexposed due to incorrect machine settings

• Film overexposed due to tube cassette distance too short
• Film overexposed due to improper measurement of body part to be radiographed
• Could be double exposure

Question 17

Film overexposed due to incorrect machine settings

Answer 17

Lower kVp

Question 18

Film overexposed due to tube cassette distance too short

Answer 18

Increase tube cassette distance

Question 19

Film overexposed due to improper measurement of body part to be radiographed

Answer 19

Recheck measurement

Question 20

Could be double exposure

Answer 20

Change cassette between shots

Question 21

Radiograph is “too light”

Answer 21

Caused by:
-Film underexposed due to incorrect machine settings

• Film underexposed due to tube cassette distance too long
• Film underexposed due to improper measurement of body part to be radiographed

Question 22

Film underexposed due to incorrect machine settings

Answer 22

Increase kVp

Question 23

Film underexposed due to tube cassette distance too long

Answer 23

Decrease tube cassette distance

Question 24

Film underexposed due to improper measurement of body part to be radiographed

Answer 24

Recheck measurement

Question 25

Radiograph is blurry

Answer 25

Caused by:
-Patient moving

Fix it by:
-Decrease time (increase mA) or sedate patient