Finals (Lab) | Radiographic Arifacts Flashcards
Artifacts are undesirable (1) or (2) on a radiograph or any other medical image.
- optical densities
- blemishes
An artifact is any (1) on an image that is NOT caused by the (2) of tissue by the (3).
- irregularities
- proper shadowing
- primary x-ray beam
Artifacts can interfere with the (1) of (2) and can lead to (3).
- visualization
- anatomical structures
- misdiagnosis
Artifacts can be controlled when their cause is (1).
- identified
RADIOGRAPHIC ARTIFACTS
01 EXPOSURE ARTIFACTS
02 PROCESSING ARTIFACTS
03 HANDLING AND STORAGE ARTIFACTS
What are not considered artifacts but are still seen in a radiograph?
Pins, fasteners, dressings, and splints
Why do pins, fasteners, dressings, and splints often have to remain in place?
In cases of trauma, such as fractures or severe injuries, these are often used to stabilize and support the affected area during healing. Removing these devices too early or without proper care could potentially worsen the injury or lead to complications.
For example, removing a splint too soon could result in the bone not healing properly or moving out of alignment. Similarly, removing dressings or fasteners too early could expose the wound to infection or cause excessive bleeding.
Associated with the manner in which the radiographer conducts the examination.
EXPOSURE ARTIFACTS
EXPOSURE ARTIFACTS
- Unexpected foreign objects
- Double Exposure
- Motion Blur
- Grid cut-off artifacts
- Poor Screen Film Contact
- Wrong Screen-Film Match
- Warped Cassette
- Underexposure/ Overexposure
Cause of Unexpected foreign objects
Improper patient preparation/ instruction
Unexpected FO appearance
Radiopaque/ radioparent
Corrective action for unepected FO
Give proper and detailed instruction
Cause of double exposure
Reuse of cassettes that had already been exposed
Corrective action for double exposure
Properly store CXTS
Exposed CXTs: loading bench
Unexposed CXTs:radiographic area
Cause of Motion Blur
Improper patient movement, including breathing
Corrective action for motion blue
Proper patient instruction
Proper patient instruction for a chest XR?
- Full inspiration on second instructed breathing.
- This allows full expansion of lungs full of air
Devices used to keep a specific body part still and in the correct position during the imaging procedure
Immobilization devices
Example of immobilization devices
Straps
Sponges
Sandbags
Pigg-o-stat
Cause of Grid cut-off artifacts
- Improper patient positioning
- Improper grid positioning/ ratio
What is a grid?
- A device placed b/n patient and the CXT
- Helps absorb scattered image
Cause of Poor Screen Film Contact
Destroyed compression device
Cause of Wrong Screen-Film Match
Improper match of film and screen combination