Radiology Artifacts
Screen-Film
Mammography
http://www.sma.org.sg/smj/4707/4707pe1.pdf
Screen-Film
Mammography
Pressure mark or
crimp mark due
to excessive
pressure on film
appears as
increased optical
density.
Screen-Film
Mammography
http://www.sma.org.sg/smj/4707/4707pe1.pdf
Screen-Film
Mammography
Artifacts caused by dust and dirt on intensifying screen
creating white spots simulating calcifications
Screen-Film
Mammography
http://www.sma.org.sg/smj/4707/4707pe1.pdf
Screen-Film
Mammography
Blurring due to
motion
Screen-Film
Mammography
http://www.sma.org.sg/smj/4707/4707pe1.pdf
Screen-Film
Mammography
Fingerprints
Screen-Film
Mammography
http://www.sma.org.sg/smj/4707/4707pe1.pdf
Screen-Film
Mammography
Long streak of
stain on
intensifying screen
appearing as minus
density
Screen-Film
Mammography
Obvious underexposure
but not caused by
technique or processing
http://www.sma.org.sg/smj/4707/4707pe1.pdf
Screen-Film
Mammography
Two films loaded
into same cassette
Screen-Film
Mammography
http://www.sma.org.sg/smj/4707/4707pe1.pdf
Screen-Film
Mammography
Wet or damp screen
causing plus density
Screen-Film
Mammography
Easy one. Why is
ID superimposed
on breast?
http://www.sma.org.sg/smj/4707/4707pe1.pdf
Screen-Film
Mammography
Cassette loaded
backwards (frontback) into bucky
tray.
Screen-Film
Mammography
Obvious
underexposure
but not caused by
technique or
processing
http://www.sma.org.sg/smj/4707/4707pe1.pdf
Screen-Film
Mammography
Film loaded upside
down into cassette
Screen-Film
Mammography
Easy?
http://www.sma.org.sg/smj/4707/4707pe1.pdf
Screen-Film
Mammography
Cassette loaded
upside down into
bucky tray.
Screen-Film
Mammography
http://www.sma.org.sg/smj/4707/4707pe1.pdf
Screen-Film
Mammography
Light leak in
cassette
Incompletely
latched
crack
Screen-Film
Mammography
http://www.sma.org.sg/smj/4707/4707pe1.pdf
Screen-Film
Mammography
Double exposure
Screen-Film
Mammography
http://www.sma.org.sg/smj/4707/4707pe1.pdf
Screen-Film
Mammography
Compression
paddle vertical
section (anterior
lip)
Screen-Film
Mammography
http://www.sma.org.sg/smj/4707/4707pe1.pdf
Screen-Film
Mammography
Films run through
processor too close
together
(overlapped)
Screen-Film
Mammography
http://www.sma.org.sg/smj/4707/4707pe1.pdf
Screen-Film
Mammography
Static electricity
Screen-Film
Mammography
http://www.sma.org.sg/smj/4707/4707pe1.pdf
Screen-Film
Mammography
Emulsion pick-off
caused by pulling
stuck films apart
Screen-Film
Mammography
http://www.sma.org.sg/smj/4707/4707pe1.pdf
Screen-Film
Mammography
Black arrows point
at vertical black
lines perpendicular
to direction of film
travel through
processor. Cause:
pressure from
developer roller or
moisture on
entrance roller.
Screen-Film
Mammography
http://www.sma.org.sg/smj/4707/4707pe1.pdf
Screen-Film
Mammography
Dust in darkroom
and dirty rollers
causing emulsion
pick-off.
Screen-Film
Mammography
http://www.sma.org.sg/smj/4707/4707pe1.pdf
Screen-Film
Mammography
Over-development
caused by chemical
fog.
Radiography
Two images of
same anatomy.
What changed?
http://radiographics.rsnajnls.org/cgi/reprint/11/2/307?maxtoshow=&HITS=10
&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=grid+artifacts&andorexactfulltext=an
d&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT
Radiography
No grid
102 cm SID
.33R ESE
Grid
122 cm SID
2.2 R ESE
CR
What are white
spots?
http://radiographics.rsnajnls.org/cgi/reprint/11/5/795?maxtoshow=&
HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=artifact&searchid=1
&FIRSTINDEX=10&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT
CR
Dust / dirt on
phosphor screen
CR
Dirt on CR plate. Right image
repeated on screen-film
http://radiographics.rsnajnls.org/cgi/reprint/11/5/795?maxtoshow=&
HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=artifact&searchid=1
&FIRSTINDEX=10&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT
Rot at ing
Mir r or
PM Tube
Light
Laser
Analog/ Digit al
Comput er
Beam scanned
across
film
Plate
Travel
CR
What are white
lines?
http://radiographics.rsnajnls.org/cgi/reprint/11/5/795?maxtoshow=&
HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=artifact&searchid=1
&FIRSTINDEX=10&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT
CR
Cracks on image plate due to
mechanical wear
CR
http://radiographics.rsnajnls.org/cgi/reprint/11/5/795?maxtoshow=&
HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=artifact&searchid=1
&FIRSTINDEX=10&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT
CR
Transport problems in
CR reader
Rotating
Mirror
PMTube
Light
Laser
Analog/ Digital
Computer
Beam scanned
across film
Plate
Travel
CR
What are funny
dark patterns on
ventilator tube
metal stabilizer?
http://radiographics.rsnajnls.org/cgi/reprint/11/5/795?maxtoshow=&
HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=artifact&searchid=1
&FIRSTINDEX=10&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT
CR
Moire effect because
of interference
between scan
frequency of matrix
and spiral
CR
http://radiographics.rsnajnls.org/cgi/reprint/11/5/795?maxtoshow=&
HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=artifact&searchid=1
&FIRSTINDEX=10&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT
CR
Diagonal
collimation caused
algorithm to
improperly
recognize collimated
area
CR
http://radiographics.rsnajnls.org/cgi/reprint/11/5/795?maxtoshow=&
HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=artifact&searchid=1
&FIRSTINDEX=10&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT
CR
Chest incorrectly
specified by
technologist to
CR reader as
lumbar spine
Ultrasound
There’s flow but it isn’t
showing up. Why?
http://radiographics.rsnajnls.org/cgi/reprint/12/1/35?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&
hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=artifacts&andorexactfulltext=and&search
id=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT
Ultrasound
Improper setting of velocity scale (set too high). Low
flow not displayed
http://radiographics.rsnajnls.org/cgi/reprint/12/1/35?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&
hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=artifacts&andorexactfulltext=and&search
id=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT
Ultrasound
What’s that funny
reversed flow?
http://radiographics.rsnajnls.org/cgi/reprint/12/1/35?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&
hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=artifacts&andorexactfulltext=and&search
id=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT
Ultrasound
Improper setting of velocity scale (set too low).
Aliasing occurs
Ultrasound
Low flow in both
directions?
http://radiographics.rsnajnls.org/cgi/reprint/12/1/35?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&
hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=artifacts&andorexactfulltext=and&search
id=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT
Ultrasound
Doppler angle is 90o; sample
volume has vessel
perpendicular to beam. Right
image alters Doppler angle.
Ultrasound
Same anatomy. Why is there spectral broadening
on the left image?
http://radiographics.rsnajnls.org/cgi/reprint/12/1/35?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&
hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=artifacts&andorexactfulltext=and&search
id=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT
Ultrasound
71o Doppler angle
81o Doppler angle
Minimize spectral broadening
artifact by using Doppler
angles < 60o