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Image Artifact Troubleshooting

Artifact triage works best when you first sort the problem by scope, timing, and modality instead of jumping straight to one suspected component.

Start with scope​

  • One study or many studies?
  • One protocol or all protocols?
  • One scanner or multiple scanners?
  • Visible at acquisition only, or still visible after archive and review?

Useful evidence to capture early​

  • Screenshots or exported sample images
  • Protocol name and body part
  • Date and time of exam
  • Recent maintenance, calibration, or software changes
  • Environmental or workflow context such as power events or network disruptions

Cross-modality patterns​

  • Repeating geometry often suggests a hardware or calibration issue
  • Random dropouts can point toward unstable interfaces, timing, or communications
  • Artifacts seen only after transfer may indicate display, routing, or processing issues
  • Problems tied to one protocol may reveal parameter, reconstruction, or workflow differences

Modality-specific examples to recognize​

  • CT: ring artifacts, streaking, motion, or detector-related patterns
  • MRI: zipper artifacts, shading, ghosting, coil issues, or environmental interference
  • X-ray: grid-related artifacts, detector lag, stitching issues, or exposure workflow errors
  • Ultrasound: dropout, noise, probe-related defects, or cable intermittency

A practical response sequence​

  1. Preserve evidence before rebooting or recalibrating if patient care allows.
  2. Confirm whether the issue is ongoing, intermittent, or already resolved.
  3. Narrow the failure boundary to modality, workflow, or downstream system.
  4. Check for recent changes in software, hardware, or room conditions.
  5. Document what was tested so the next team can continue efficiently.