Ace the CT Tech Challenge 2025 – Scan Your Way to Success!

An increase in extended pitch values during a CT scan is particularly associated with the emergence of streak artifacts. This is due to the way extended pitch affects data collection and reconstruction. With higher pitch values, the table moves through the scan area more quickly relative to the speed at which the X-ray data is acquired. If the data acquisition does not keep up with the movement, there can be gaps in the information collected, leading to incomplete data for reconstruction. This incomplete data can manifest as streak artifacts on the final images, which are often characterized by bright lines radiating from high-density structures, such as bones or metal objects.

In contrast, motion artifacts, geometric distortion, and noise artifacts have different causes. Motion artifacts arise from patient movement during the scan, geometric distortion involves issues with how objects are represented based on the geometry of the imaging system, and noise artifacts relate to statistical fluctuations in data rather than the scanning speed or pitch used. Thus, understanding the relationship between pitch and streak artifacts can help ensure more accurate imaging outcomes in clinical practice.