ARTIFACTS

PREPARED BY: SARAH SOON, RRT

 ARTIFACTS
An artifact is any irregularity on an image that is not caused by the
proper shadowing of tissue by the primary x-ray beam.
Undesirable optical densities or blemishes on a radiograph or any
other medical image.
 EXPOSURE ARTIFACTS
Exposure artifacts generally are associated with the
manner in which the radiographer conducts the
examination.
 IMPROPER PREPARATION
Occurs when the
radiologic technologist
DOES NOT properly
EXPOSURE ARTIFACTS

instruct and prepares the

patient.
eg: Necklaces, pendants,
hearing aids, chains,
earrings, body and facial
piercings, zippers and
catches, and a variety of
jewelry
EXPOSURE ARTIFACTS

PATIENT MOTION
Appearance: Blurring, unsharpness, underexposure
 IMPROPER PATIENT POSITION
CAUSES APPERANCE CORRECTIVE ACTION
EXPOSURE ARTIFACTS

Technical skills Identify the

Overlapping
Inadequate proper standard
structures
rotating or / modification
Obscuring
turning with Use accessories
region of
optimum to aid
interest
angulation positioning
Distortion
Patient (sponges / foam
Magnification
conditions wedges)
EXPOSURE ARTIFACTS

DOUBLE EXPOSURE
Appearance: Overexposed, overlapping image, blurring
 POOR SCREEN FILM CONTACT
Produce smoothness (blurring) in the area of poor contact that obscures
detail and constitutes an artifact.
EXPOSURE ARTIFACTS
 WARPED CASSETTE / BROKEN CASSETTE
CAUSES APPERANCE CORRECTIVE ACTION
EXPOSURE ARTIFACTS

Poor screen
condition

Focal fog Replace

Light leaks cassette
High density Perform QC
 WRONG SCREEN FILM COMBINATION
CAUSES APPERANCE CORRECTIVE ACTION
EXPOSURE ARTIFACTS

Proper selection
Improper match of Underexposure of film and
film and screen Overexposure screen
combination High contrast combination
Low contrast Identify film
base and speed
GRID PROBLEMS / IMPROPER GRID POSITION
EXPOSURE ARTIFACTS

Appearance: Underexposed
PROCESSING ARTIFACTS
Artifacts produced during film
processing.
Eliminated with a proper
processor QC program and
frequent cleaning.
 ROLLER MARKS
1. Guide shoe marks
Occur when the guide shoes
PROCESSING ARTIFACTS

in the turnaround assembly

of the processor are sprung
or improperly positioned
Found on the leading edge or
the trailing edge of the film
parallel to the direction of film
travel through the processor.
 ROLLER MARKS
2. Pi Lines
Occur at 3.1416-inch (π)
PROCESSING ARTIFACTS

intervals because of dirt or a

chemical stain on a roller,
which sensitizes the
emulsion.
Artifact appears perpendicular
to the film’s direction of travel
through the processor.
 DIRTY ROLLERS / WARPED ROLLERS
Causes emulsion pick-off
PROCESSING ARTIFACTS

and gelatin buildup,

which result in sludge
deposits on the film.
Appears as sharp areas of
increased or reduced OD.
 CHEMICAL FOG
Looks like light or radiation fog
PROCESSING ARTIFACTS

and is usually a uniform dull

gray.
Caused by improper or
inadequate processing
chemistry
 DICHROIC STAIN / FOG
2 or more coloured stain on the radiographic film
Can appear yellow, green, blue, or purple
PROCESSING ARTIFACTS

CURTAIN EFFECT
Improper squeezing of processing
chemicals on film
 WET-PRESSURE SENSITIZATION
Produced in the
PROCESSING ARTIFACTS

developer tank
Irregular or dirty rollers
cause pressure during
development and
produce small circular
patterns of increased OD
 OTHER PROCESSING ARTIFACTS

APPEARANCE CAUSE

Yellow-brown drops on
Oxidized developer
film

Milky appearance Underreplenished fixer

Greasy appearance Inadequate washing

Brittle appearance Improper dryer temperature or hardener in the fixer

Chatter artifact Inconsistent movement of rollers (increases development)

Kissing artifact 2 films simultaneously placed during processing

STORAGE AND HANDLING
ARTIFACTS
 LIGHT OR RADIATION FOG
CAUSE APPEARANCE
STORAGE AND HANDLING ARTIFACTS

White-light leaks in the darkroom or within

Increased OD
the cassette

Safelight has an improper filter, the safelight

is too bright, or the safelight is too close to
the film processing tray
Fogging
Films left in the exposure room ; inadequate
shielding of film bin
 KINK MARKS
AKA: Crimp marks
STORAGE AND HANDLING ARTIFACTS

Abrupt bending / creasing of film.

Appear as increased OD.
 CRESCENT ARTIFACTS/ HALF-MOON MARKS
Caused by long fingernails
STORAGE AND HANDLING ARTIFACTS
 SCRATCHES
Caused by
STORAGE AND HANDLING ARTIFACTS

improper handling
of film either
before or after
processing
Appears as
increased OD
 STATIC ARTIFACTS
Caused by the buildup
STORAGE AND HANDLING ARTIFACTS

of electrons in the
emulsion
Seen in low
temperatures and
humidity
Types: Crown, Smudge
and Tree
 PRESSURE ARTIFACTS
Poor film storage conditions
STORAGE AND HANDLING ARTIFACTS

Caused by stacking films horizontally on top

of one another
 HYPO RETENTION
Yellow-brown stain that
STORAGE AND HANDLING ARTIFACTS

slowly appears on a
radiograph after a long
storage time
Caused by inadequate
washing ; residual thiosulfate
Silver sulfide slowly builds up
and appears yellow in the
stored radiograph.