Artifacts Flashcards
Dark or Black Marks
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
Developer Splash
Looks like: Dark or black marks
- Do not splash developer
- Keep developer off of hands
Fingerprints from excessive pressure
Looks like: Dark or black marks
-Handle film carefully
Crescent marks due to bending of film
Looks like: Dark or black marks
-Handle film carefully
Edge of film black due to light leak
Looks like: Dark or black marks
- Make sure cassette closes properly and is not warped
- Replace felt lining if damaged
Static electricity
Looks like: Dark or black marks
- Raise the humidity in the room
- Handle carefully
- Don’t slide across surfaces
- Clean intensifying screens
Light or white marks
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)
Fixer or water splash
Looks like: Light or white marks
-Clean screens regularly
Dirt or debris on intensifying screen
Looks like: Light or white marks
-sharp margins
Fingerprints
Looks like: Light or white marks
-Handle film by corners
Localized area of no development
Looks like: Light or white marks
- Due to air bubbles on film during processing
- “air bells”
- Agitate developer solution during processing
Kissing markings
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
Emulsion scratches
Looks like: Light or white marks
- Handle we film carefully
- Properly store developed film
Foreign objects on patient or table
Looks like: Light or white marks
- Margins blurred
- Clean table, v-troughs, sponges after use, brush off patient, remove collar, sandbags, etc.
Stains on films
Caused by:
- Most stains are due to insufficient rinsing during manual processing.
- Rinse film well, change chemicals regularly, stir chemicals before use.
Radiographs is “too dark”
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
Film overexposed due to incorrect machine settings
Lower kVp
Film overexposed due to tube cassette distance too short
Increase tube cassette distance
Film overexposed due to improper measurement of body part to be radiographed
Recheck measurement
Could be double exposure
Change cassette between shots
Radiograph is “too light”
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
Film underexposed due to incorrect machine settings
Increase kVp
Film underexposed due to tube cassette distance too long
Decrease tube cassette distance
Film underexposed due to improper measurement of body part to be radiographed
Recheck measurement
Radiograph is blurry
Caused by:
-Patient moving
Fix it by:
-Decrease time (increase mA) or sedate patient
