How is pitch expressed in CT imaging?

Pitch in CT imaging is defined as the ratio of the speed at which the table moves to the thickness of the slices being obtained during a scan. This measurement is important because it directly influences the amount of data collected during a CT scan, which in turn affects image quality and the speed of the scanning process.

A higher pitch indicates that the table moves faster relative to the slice thickness, allowing for quicker scans but potentially at the cost of image resolution and quality. Conversely, a lower pitch means that the table moves more slowly relative to slice thickness, resulting in higher resolution images, albeit with longer scan times. Understanding pitch is crucial for optimizing CT scans for various clinical scenarios.

The other options do not accurately define pitch in the context of CT imaging. For instance, pitch is not simply expressed as a percentage of speed, nor is it measured as a time interval or as a ratio involving rotation speed directly linked to image quality. These alternative definitions fail to capture the specific relationship between table movement and slice thickness that pitch represents in CT technology.