Beam Hardening Artifact

Occurs from the xray beam being attenuated as it comes into contact with dense objects as the tube performs its 3D rotation.

This can result from dense bones (IAMS), metal and other dense objects in the scan FOV (eg arms being down while performing a Chest CT) 

 (1)

Occurs when there is a fault in one or more detector channels. 

This creates a circular whirlpool looking artifact on our images and needs to be fixed by engineers as soon as possible. Recalibration or repair of the detector will usually rectify the artifact 

(2)

Occurs when there is patient motion while scanning. 

Appears as

• Double borders (ghosting)

• Loss of spatial resolution and blurring 

Best visualised in sharper kernel imaging (bone and lung windows) 

(2)