Question of the Day

When the x-ray beam is not centered on the structure being radiographed, the image appears longer than its normal size, creating an elongation artifact.

The heel effect occurs when the x-ray beam is more intense at the cathode side compared to the anode side, resulting in uneven x-ray photon distribution.

This phenomenon is related to the angle of the anode target area and to the absorption of the x-ray beam by the anode target material.

Foreshortening occurs when the structure being radiographed is lifted off the table, causing the structure to appear shorter than its actual size.

Click to see examples of several radiographic artifacts from The Ohio State University’s website.