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Radiographic Errors and Artifacts: Dr. Walid Samir Salem

This document discusses common radiographic errors and artifacts, categorizing them into technique and projection errors, exposure errors, and processing errors. Technique errors include patient preparation issues, film placement mistakes, and incorrect projection angles. Exposure errors cause over- or under-exposed images. Processing errors stem from chemical or film handling problems during development and fixing. Together these error types can produce a variety of artifacts that degrade image quality and interpretation if not avoided.

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Czarina Kaye
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235 views56 pages

Radiographic Errors and Artifacts: Dr. Walid Samir Salem

This document discusses common radiographic errors and artifacts, categorizing them into technique and projection errors, exposure errors, and processing errors. Technique errors include patient preparation issues, film placement mistakes, and incorrect projection angles. Exposure errors cause over- or under-exposed images. Processing errors stem from chemical or film handling problems during development and fixing. Together these error types can produce a variety of artifacts that degrade image quality and interpretation if not avoided.

Uploaded by

Czarina Kaye
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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RADIOGRAPHIC

ERRORS AND
ARTIFACTS

Dr. Walid Samir Salem


BDS, MS, MHPE
lecturer, Oral Surgery Department
Member, Dental education unit
Films with errors should be avoided due
to the following reasons:
Retake will lead to:
•Expose the patient to unnecessary
radiation.
•Waste film & time (money).
•Interfere with accurate interpretation
and diagnosis.
Causes of faulty radiograph

The majority of the errors produced


can be categorized into three groups:
I. Technique & Projection errors.
II. Exposure errors.
III.Processing errors.
I. Technique & Projection
errors:
a. Patient preparation error:
•Radiopaque artifact •Blurred image
•Pressure mark
b. Film placment artifact:
•Double image •Reversed film
•Dot artifact •Apices cut off
•Crown not shown •Dropped film corner
•Area of interest not shown •Black line
•Distortion
c. Projection errors:
•Incorrect vertical angulation.
•Incorrect horizontal angulation
•PID alignment artifact
Technique & Projection errors
a. Patient preparation error

Radiopaque artifact
Dental appliances, body piercings, jewelry
& eye glasses left in the mouth during
exposure will appear as radiopaque
artifact superimposed over the dental
image.
Correction: all this items should be
removed before placing of the film.
Technique & Projection errors
a. Patient preparation error

Blurred image

Movement of the film, patient or X-ray


tube head during exposure will result in
a blurred image.
Correction: the operator should explain
for the patient & remind him to remain
motionless during exposure.
Technique & Projection errors
a. Patient preparation error:

Pressure mark
Pressure from the incisal edge & cusps
of the teeth (mostly in the pediatric
occlusal radiograph).
May appear black or white.
Correction: ask the patient to bite gently.
Technique & Projection errors
b. Film placment artifact

Double image
When an exposed film is re-exposed the
resulting film will have 2 superimposed
images
Technique & Projection errors
b. Film placment artifact

Reversed film
Low density with herring bone, tire-track
or dotted pattern, as a result of directing
the X-ray through the lead foil side of the
film back.
Technique & Projection errors
b. Film placment artifact

Dot artifact
The identification (embossed) dot produce a
circular radiolucent artifact on the final
radiograph. This may interfere with
interpretation of the apical areas of the teeth.
Technique & Projection errors
b. Film placment artifact

Apices cut off


Occur when the film is not positioned apically
enough to record the entire tooth.
Technique & Projection errors
b. Film placment artifact

Crown not shown

There is no enough film extending


occlusally.
Technique & Projection errors
b. Film placment artifact

Dropped film corner


The film edge is not placed parallel to
the occlusal surface of the teeth.
Technique & Projection errors
b. Film placment artifact

Area of interest not shown


This is the result of not placing the film to
cover all the teeth in the area of interest and
not centralizing the film over the area of
interest.
Technique & Projection errors
b. Film placment artifact

Black line
Due to excessive bending of the film prior
to its placement inside the patient’s mouth
(pressure causes ionization of silver halide
upon processing will be darker).
Technique & Projection errors
b. Film placment artifact

Distortion
Due to bending of the film to eliminate the
patient’s discomfort specially in lower
premolar area and upper central incisors.

normal distortion
Technique & Projection errors
c. Projection errors

Incorrect vertical angulation


It will lead to:
•Elongated image due to insufficient
v. angulation ( too flat), or
•Shortened image due to excessive v.
angulation ( too steep)
Technique & Projection errors
c. Projection errors
Technique & Projection errors
c. Projection errors
Technique & Projection errors
c. Projection errors

Incorrect horizontal angulation


Is the appearance of the interproximal
surfaces of the adjacent teeth over each
other. This is due to improper H.A. due to
improper alignment of the C.R. through
the contact points i.e. not // to
interproximal surfaces.
Technique & Projection errors
c. Projection errors
Technique & Projection errors
c. Projection errors

PID alignment artifact


If the PID is misaligned and the x-ray is
not centered over the film, a partial image
is seen on the resultant radiograph, this
partial image is called cone-cut.
It appear as a clear area with curved
outline.
Asuan – Egy.
II. Exposure errors.

Blank image.
Low density image.
High density image.
Image with high and low contrast.
Exposure errors

Blank image
A film that didn’t receive radiation will
have no image and will appear clear.
Exposure errors

Low density (faint) image


Exposure errors

High density image


III. Processing errors
Chemical errors: Film Handling errors:
•Light image. •Writing lines
•Dark image. •Developer cut off
•Blank image. •Fixer cut off
•Reticulation. •Overlapped film
•Black spot or patch. •Finger nail artifact
•Black line. •Smudge.
•White spot or patch. •Scratched film
• Yellowish brown •Static electricity
discoloration.
Processing errors
Chemical errors

Reticulation
When the film
subjected to a sudden
temperature changes
between the
developer and water.
Appear as cracked
film.
Processing errors
Chemical errors

Black spot or patch

Developer contamination before


immersion into the developer solution.
Processing errors
Chemical errors

Black line
Developer contamination processing
hanger clips
Dirty roller in automatic processor
Processing errors
Chemical errors

White spot or patch


Contamination with fixer before processing
Processing errors
Chemical errors

Yellowish brown discoloration


Exhausted solution or insufficient rinsing
Processing errors
Film Handling errors

Writing lines
Appear on the radiograph due to writing on
the film packet with ballpoint pen or lead
pencil.
It may appear black or white.

Finger nail artifact


Black or whit crescent shape mark due to
rough handling of the film.
Processing errors
Film Handling errors

Developer cut off


A straight blank white border due to
underdeveloped portion. The film may
not be completely immersed in the
developer solution.
Processing errors
Film Handling errors

Fixer cut off


A straight black border. The film may not be
completely immersed in the developer
solution.
Processing errors
Film Handling errors

Overlapped film
Film that overlap in developer are
white, while that overlap in fixer are
black
Processing errors
Film Handling errors

Smudge (finger print)


When the film touched by fingers
contaminated with developer or fixer
Processing errors
Film Handling errors

Scratched film

White lines appear on


the film due to careless
handling of the film.
Processing errors
Film Handling errors

Static electricity
Thin black branching lines Occurs when
two surfaces are rubbed together against
each other vigorously, this creates an
electric charges with visible light emitted
which is capable of exposing the x-ray
film, thus leading to ionization of AgBr
crystals at this area.
Occur most frequently during periods of
low humidity
Metallic partial
denture

Blurred
Reverse image

Apices cut off


Dropped corner

Distortion
Horizontal overlap

Elongation

Double image
Static electricity

Low denisty
White spot or patch

Yellowish brown discoloration


Reverse image

Developer cut off Cone-cut


Thank You

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