What kind of artifact could occur due to patient movement during a CT scan?

Motion artifact occurs when a patient moves during a CT scan, resulting in images that may show blurring or streaking. This type of artifact can significantly affect the quality of the images produced, making it difficult to identify anatomical structures accurately. As the CT scanner captures multiple slices of the body, any motion—whether it be breathing, voluntary movement, or involuntary motions caused by discomfort—can lead to discrepancies between the data collected across each slice. The result is a compromised image that may obscure important diagnostic information, necessitating a repeat of the scan to obtain clearer images.

This understanding highlights the importance of ensuring patient compliance and stabilization during CT procedures, as minimizing movement is crucial to producing high-quality diagnostic images. It also emphasizes the role of effective communication and instruction from the technologist to the patient before and during the scan.