Artifact (medical imaging)

Artifacts are misrepresentations of tissue structures seen in medical images produced by modalities such as Ultrasonography, X-ray Computed Tomography, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging. These artifacts are caused by a variety of mechanisms, such as:

• The underlying physics of the energy-tissue interaction (ie: Ultrasound-air)
• Data acquisition errors (mostly from patient motion)
• A reconstruction algorithm's inability to represent the anatomy.

Additional recommended knowledge

How to ensure accurate weighing results every day?

What is the Correct Way to Check Repeatability in Balances?

Safe Weighing Range Ensures Accurate Results

Physicians learn to recognize these artifacts to avoid confusing them with real pathology.

See also

• Artifact (observational)