Training activity information
Details
Identify and make recommendations to rectify common image artefacts, including:
- Radiographic images
- CT
Type
Developmental training activity (DTA)
Evidence requirements
Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee.
Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.
An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.
Considerations
- Image artefacts
- Clinical impact of artefacts
- Common equipment failures
Reflective practice guidance
The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.
Before action
- What are the intended outcomes of the training activity?
- How will you develop a systematic ability to recognise common artefacts across different x-ray imaging modalities?
- Why is it important to move beyond simple identification to understanding the scientific causes of these artefacts and suggesting appropriate corrective actions?
- How will this activity help you bridge the link between technical acquisition parameters and the resulting diagnostic image quality?
- What is your prior experience of this activity?
- What do you already know about the common types of artefacts seen in radiographic images, such as motion or grid cut-off, and their typical causes?
- How familiar are you with the modality-specific artefacts encountered in CT, such as ring or streaking artefacts, and their mathematical or mechanical origins?
- Based on your previous experience with image formation, what theoretical principles can you draw upon to troubleshoot these image quality limitations?
- What do you anticipate you will learn from the experience?
- What specific insights do you hope to gain regarding the complex relationship between acquisition parameters, equipment performance, and the visual appearance of artefacts?
- What practical, evidence-based steps do you anticipate learning to help you minimise or eliminate these artefacts in a clinical environment?
- In what ways do you expect this experience to improve your ability to formulate effective recommendations—such as adjusting exposure factors, patient repositioning, or performing equipment maintenance?
- What actions will you take in preparation for the experience?
- How will you structure your discussion with your Training Officer to ensure you understand the specific context of the activity, such as whether you will be reviewing clinical images or phantom-based QA images?
- Which educational materials, textbooks, or image repositories will you review beforehand to help you illustrate and describe common radiographic and CT artefacts?
- How will you prepare to identify which artefacts require immediate escalation for equipment repair versus those that can be resolved through procedural changes?
- How do you feel about the challenge of applying your physics knowledge to the practical problem-solving required for artefact rectification?
- How might your feelings about collaborating with clinical users influence your approach to suggesting changes to established imaging protocols?
In action
- Which specific image artefact are you currently analysing? What visual cues are you using to identify it?
- How are you systematically considering the potential causes of this artefact based on your knowledge of image formation in radiography and CT?
- What recommendations are you formulating to rectify the artefact, and why do you believe these will be effective?
- What aspects of artefact identification and rectification are becoming more automatic for you, and where do you need to consciously apply your knowledge?
- How confident are you in your identification of the artefact and its likely cause(s)?
- What challenges are you facing in distinguishing between different types of artefacts or in determining the root cause?
- What are you learning about the practical manifestation of image artefacts and the strategies for resolving them?
- How does this activity relate to your understanding of the limitations to x-ray image quality?
- Are there alternative explanations for the artefact you are observing? Should you consider other possibilities?
- Do you need to consult reference materials or seek guidance from experienced colleagues to confirm your diagnosis and recommendations?
- Are your recommendations for rectification practical and achievable within the clinical setting?
On action
- What types of image artefacts were identified in the radiographic and CT images?
- What were the potential causes of these artefacts?
- What process was used to identify the artefacts?
- What recommendations were made to rectify the artefacts?
- What factors were considered when determining the recommendations?
- What are the common image artefacts encountered in radiographic and CT imaging?
- How can these artefacts impact image quality and diagnostic information?
- What are the typical causes of these artefacts related to equipment, patient factors, or acquisition parameters?
- What are the common strategies for rectifying these artefacts?
- How will you improve your ability to identify image artefacts in the future?
- What resources or knowledge will you utilise to understand the causes and rectification of artefacts?
- How will you formulate effective recommendations for artefact reduction?
Beyond action
- Have you encountered similar image artefacts in radiographic images or CT scans since this training activity? How has your ability to identify and recommend solutions evolved?
- Consider the specific artefacts you encountered. Have you revisited the underlying causes and potential fixes based on further learning or experience?
- Have you discussed image artefacts with colleagues or supervisors in other contexts (e.g., reporting sessions)? Has this changed your view on the significance or rectification of certain artefacts?
- How has this activity improved your ability to troubleshoot image quality issues in your daily work?
- Have you been able to apply your knowledge of artefact identification and rectification to other imaging modalities beyond radiography and CT?
- Consider how this experience has influenced your understanding of the importance of image quality for accurate diagnosis.
- Identify how your skills in image artefact identification and problem-solving will be crucial for maintaining high-quality imaging in your future role.
- What actions will you take to continue developing your knowledge of image artefacts across all diagnostic radiology modalities?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 3 |
Outcome
Identify common image artefacts and make recommendations for rectification. |