What technique is suggested to combat aliasing artifacts in CT imaging?

Slowing down gantry rotation or reducing the helical pitch is a key technique suggested to combat aliasing artifacts in CT imaging. When the gantry rotates too quickly, it can create situations where the data collection does not adequately capture the anatomy, leading to overlapping signals and resulting in aliasing artifacts. By slowing down the gantry rotation, the scanner takes more time to collect data from the same area, allowing for better resolution and reduced risk of artifacts.

Similarly, reducing the helical pitch—which refers to the distance the table moves per rotation of the gantry relative to the width of the x-ray beam—enhances the data collection density. This ensures that the anatomy being scanned is better represented in terms of spatial positioning, ultimately leading to higher quality images with fewer artifacts. This approach allows for a more accurate reconstruction of the images, thereby improving diagnostic confidence.

Other options do not directly address the fundamental causes of aliasing. For instance, increasing the number of image slices might provide more data but does not necessarily solve the issues related to data acquisition timing and overlap. Using higher radiation doses raises concerns regarding patient safety, while enhancing image reconstruction algorithms may improve image quality but will not prevent artifacts originating from data collection processes.