What describes banding artifacts in CT imaging?

Banding artifacts in CT imaging are primarily associated with the interference patterns that occur due to the movement of the patient or the rotation of the CT scanner during data acquisition, particularly in high-speed imaging scenarios. These artifacts are often seen in cardiac CT imaging where the heart is in constant motion. The rapid oscillation of the heart muscle can lead to misalignment in the data captured by the detectors, resulting in banding effects that affect the overall image quality.

Understanding banding artifacts is crucial for CT technologists, especially in cardiac imaging, where precise capture of anatomical details is necessary. Recognizing the relationship between motion and image quality enables technologists to implement strategies to minimize these artifacts, such as optimizing scan timing or using ECG gating techniques to synchronize image acquisition with the cardiac cycle.