Which artifact can appear when scanning surface is contaminated?

Which artifact can appear when scanning surface is contaminated?

• A. Motion artifact
• B. Receptor contamination artifact causing irregular density or streaks
• C. Grid artifact
• D. Ring artifact

Answer: (B)

Contamination on the receptor surface during exposure leads to a receptor contamination artifact, which appears as irregular density or streaks on the image. When foreign material—saliva, oils, processing residues, or other contaminants—lingers on the receptor, it disrupts even contact with the beam and can alter how the x-rays interact with the receptor. This produces patchy, streak-like irregularities rather than a uniform image, making the artifact directly tied to surface contamination. Motion artifacts show blur from patient movement, grid artifacts come from grid misalignment and produce a patterned line effect, and ring artifacts come from defects in the detector array producing circular rings. These have distinct appearances and causes that don’t stem from surface contamination of the receptor.

Contamination on the receptor surface during exposure leads to a receptor contamination artifact, which appears as irregular density or streaks on the image. When foreign material—saliva, oils, processing residues, or other contaminants—lingers on the receptor, it disrupts even contact with the beam and can alter how the x-rays interact with the receptor. This produces patchy, streak-like irregularities rather than a uniform image, making the artifact directly tied to surface contamination.

Motion artifacts show blur from patient movement, grid artifacts come from grid misalignment and produce a patterned line effect, and ring artifacts come from defects in the detector array producing circular rings. These have distinct appearances and causes that don’t stem from surface contamination of the receptor.