film artifacts

Film Artifacts

An artifact is any irregularity on an image that is not caused by the normal shadowing of tissue by the primary beam.

There are three areas where artifacts occur: Exposure Processing Handling

Exposure Artifacts

Exposure artifacts are generally associated with how the examination was performed. Examples include: Incorrect screen film match or wrong film Poor screen contact Warped cassettes Dirty screens Improper use of a grid. Improper technical factors – most common

reason for retakes.

Exposure Artifacts

Improper preparation of the patient for the exam or gowning instructions.

Double exposures Motion blur from improper breathing

instructions. Improper positioning of the patient and

equipment.

Common exposure artifacts

Appearance Unsuspected foreign

objects such as jewelry

Double exposure

Blur

Obscured detail

Cause Improper patient

preparation Reuse of an already

exposed cassette Improper patient

movement, breathing

Poor screen contact

Dentures

Older patients may have removable dentures for the upper or lower teeth.

Dentures

Partial Dentures are attached to the remaining teeth with metal clips.

Poor Gowning: Ear Rings

There we see an ear ring on a base posterior view.

Poor Gowning: Ear Ring

A single ear ring on a lateral cervical spine view.

Poor Gowning: Pins in Hair

Bobby pins can ruin cervical or skull radiographs.

More Hair Artifacts

Another example of mouse and dreadlocks.

You will not be able to get the patient to remove the dread locks so have the patient but their hair up for the A-P

Hair Extensions

Poor Gowning: Necklace

Patient with arms across chest

Make sure the arms are to the patient’s sides and out of the view on A-P or P-A views.

Rings and Watch

The doctor failed to have the patient remove their rings and watch.

Patient with arm to side

Make sure the arms are properly positioned for lateral views.

Metallic artifacts on Lumbar View

Intern took film with patient in shorts.

Shorts had metal eyelets for the drawstrings.

Something in pocket.

Lateral Gonad Shield

It is very important to remove the shield after it is used.

The patient was too large to be done P-A.

Fingers in the spine

Keep the hands above the lumbar spine when taking the lateral view.

Cassette Artifact Dirty Screens Dirty or damaged

screens will cause white spots on the image.

Dirty & Damaged Screens

The white spots on this film are the result of damaged or worn out screens.

Never use alcohol or detergents to clean screens.

Poor Screen Contact

Note the blurry image in the spine but sharp image of the ribs.

The screens were not in proper contact in the middle of the cassette due to a bow in the cassette back.

Processing artifacts

Processing artifacts are produced during the time the film is in the film processor.

Processing artifacts can be eliminated with a proper processor quality control program and frequent cleaning.

Occasionally the best film processor will jam or malfunction and produce artifacts.

Common Processing Artifacts

Appearance Guide shoe marks

Pi lines

Sharp increase or decrease in OD

Uniform dull gray fog

Cause Improper position of guide

shoes in turn-around assembly.

Dirt or chemical stains on rollers

Dirty or warped rollers

Improper or bad chemistry

Film Guide Scratches

Guide shoes scratches are parallel and run in the direction of film travel.

Other Processing Artifacts

Here we see hesitation marks on top of film.

This film remained in the developer too long. Perhaps from: Power Failure Processor jam

Other Processing Artifacts

This is what contaminated developer looks like.

Contaminated developer can also appear as a pink film.

Processor Chemical Marks

This artifact is called a run back artifact.

Proper cleaning of the cross over rollers can reduce the incidence of this artifact.

Processor Water Marks

These spots are the result of water spots on the film.

The upper rollers in the wash tank are supposed to squeegee the film.

Chemical Run Down Artifact

If the squeegee rollers in the developer rack do not work, the chemicals run down the film forming the appearance of water running down a window.

Dirty Developer Rollers

The rollers in the developer tank or cross over are dirty.

This causes the black artifacts on the middle of the film.

Oxidized developer is left on the film.

Tractor Marks from Film Jam

Marks that appear as tractor tracks on the upper left portion of the film are referred to as Tractor Marks.

Result of film being feed crocked and jamming the processor.

Film Handling Artifacts

A number of artifacts can occur while the film is in storage, in the darkroom or in the x-ray room.

Film is sensitive to heat and humidity.

After exposure it is very sensitive to fog from lighting problems in the darkroom.

Improper handling can cause artifacts.

All handling artifacts are avoidable!!!!

Common Handling & Storage Artifacts

Appearance Fog

Pressure or kink marks Streaks of increased OD

Cause The temperature or

humidity too high. Safelight too bright, too

close or wrong filter. Light leak or other light in

darkroom. Film left in x-ray room

during exposure. Rough handling of film. Film not completely in

processor when darkroom door opened.

Common Handling & Storage Artifacts

Appearance Crown, tree or smudge

static

Yellow-brown stain

Cause Humidity or temperature

too low Thiosulfate left on film due

to improper washing

Film Handling Artifacts

Crescent shaped artifact is a nail crinkle mark. It is caused by improper film handling.

Black spots are scratches from work surface.

Film Handling Artifacts

The door to the darkroom was opened before the film was completely in the processor.

Film Handling Artifacts

The top of the film is exposed to light by opening to darkroom door or turning on the lights with the box open.

Film Handling Artifacts

Some roller artifacts are seen caused by developer being on the entrance rollers.

Cause: Pulling a film out of the processor feed tray.

Static Electricity

Static electricity discharge may appear as a tree or lightning strike.

It may also produce round smudges.

Keep humidity in area at proper level.

Film Not Left in Box in Film Bin The box that the

film comes in serves as protection from scratching.

If you take too many sheets out, replace excess film in box not just in the bin.

Improperly Washed Film

If the wash tank is not properly filled, fixer is retained on the emulsion.

The retained fixer form silver sulfide and turns the image brown.

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