Radiography Film Artifacts and Processing Errors: Definitions and Corrections

underdeveloped film

Light appearance due to:

•Inadequate development time

•Developer solution too cool

•Inaccurate timer or thermometer

•Depleted or contaminated developer solution

overdeveloped film

Dark appearance due to:

•Excessive developing time

•Developer solution too hot

•Inaccurate timer or thermometer

•Concentrated developer solution

Reticulation of emulsion

Cracked

Sudden temperature change between developer and water bath

Emulsion

any mixture of two or more immiscible liquids in which one liquid is dispersed in the other

Developer spots

dark or black spots, developer comes in contact with film before processing

fixer spots

white or light spots, fixer comes in contact with film before processing

yellow-brown stains

Yellow-brown color appearance due to:

•Exhausted developer or fixer

•Insufficient fixing time

•Insufficient rinsing

Developer cutoff

straight white border caused by undeveloped part of film from low level of developer

fixer cutoff

Straight black border

Unfixed part of film from low level of fixer

Overlapped films

White or dark areas appear on film where overlapped due to:

•Two films contacting each other during processing

air bubbles

white spots

Air trapped on film surface after film is placed in solution

Fingernail artifact

Black crescent shaped marks/film emulsion damaged by operator's fingernail during rough handling.

Fingerprint artifact

Black fingerprint; film touched by fingers that are contaminated with fluoride or developer

static electricity

thin, black, branching lines

scratched film

white lines

soft emulsion removed from film by sharp object

light leak

Exposed area appears black; accidental exposure of film to white light

Fogged film

Gray, lack of detail and contrast caused by

improper safelighting, lightleaks, expired film, improper film storage, contaminated solutions, solution too hot

Unexposed receptor

Receptor

May occur with digital sensors or film

Appearance

The image appears clear

Cause

Failure to turn on the x-ray machine

Electrical failure

Malfunction of the x-ray machine

Correction

Make certain the x-ray machine is turned on and listen for the audible exposure signal.

Film exposed to light

Receptor

Occurs only with film

Appearance

The image appears black.

Cause

The film was exposed to white light.

Correction

Do not unwrap in a room with white light.

Check the darkroom for light leaks.

Turn off all lights in the darkroom except the safelight.

Overexposed receptor

Receptor

May occur with digital sensors or film

Appearance

Image appears dark or high in density.

Cause

Excessive exposure time, kilovoltage, milliamperage

Correction

Check settings and reduce as needed before exposing receptor.

Underexposed Receptor

Receptor

May occur with digital sensors or film

Appearance

The image appears light or low in density.

Cause

The receptor was underexposed.

Correction

Check the exposure time, kilovoltage, and milliamperage settings on the x-ray machine before exposing the receptor.

Foreshortened Images

The vertical angulation was excessive, or too steep, and as a result images are shorter than the actual teeth

Elongated images

Long distorted teeth. Too little vertical angulation.

Overlapped interproximal contacts

Result from incorrect horizontal angulation; be sure to direct the x-ray beam through the interproximal regions.

Phalangioma

Distal phalanx of the finger is seen in the radiograph

Movement/motion Unsharpness

Blurred images from patient or equipment movement.

Wired Cable Issues

intraoral sensor is linked to the computer via a fiberoptic cable; sensor is placed with the cable between the sensor and the source of radiation