What artifact appears in a digital image due to incomplete erasure of the imaging plate?

What artifact appears in a digital image due to incomplete erasure of the imaging plate?

• A. Ghost image
• B. Motion artifact
• C. Quantum mottle
• D. Ring artifact

Answer: (A)

Ghost images occur when the imaging plate used in computed radiography isn’t fully erased between exposures. The plate stores energy from the previous image in the photostimulable phosphor. If the erase cycle is incomplete, that residual energy remains and a faint replica of the prior image appears on the next radiograph, superimposed over the new anatomy. This ghosting is more likely after high exposures or insufficient erasure time and can be reduced by ensuring a thorough erase with the correct light intensity and duration between exams. By contrast, motion artifacts come from patient movement, quantum mottle from insufficient photon statistics, and ring artifacts from detector or reader imperfections.

Ghost images occur when the imaging plate used in computed radiography isn’t fully erased between exposures. The plate stores energy from the previous image in the photostimulable phosphor. If the erase cycle is incomplete, that residual energy remains and a faint replica of the prior image appears on the next radiograph, superimposed over the new anatomy. This ghosting is more likely after high exposures or insufficient erasure time and can be reduced by ensuring a thorough erase with the correct light intensity and duration between exams. By contrast, motion artifacts come from patient movement, quantum mottle from insufficient photon statistics, and ring artifacts from detector or reader imperfections.