Artefact (Radiographic)
Pronunciation: AR-teh-fakt
Any structure, density, or distortion visible on a radiographic image that does not correspond to an actual anatomical feature, arising from technical, patient, or processing errors.
Full Definition
A radiographic artefact is an unintended image feature that can obscure or mimic anatomy, potentially leading to misdiagnosis if not identified. Sources of artefacts in dental radiology include patient movement (motion artefact), metallic restorations (beam-hardening or scatter artefact), incorrect positioning (cone cutting, elongation, foreshortening), processing errors (in film-based systems), and sensor or software issues (in digital systems). Editors must apply the British spelling 'artefact' in UK/Australian publications and 'artifact' in US publications, and should standardise this throughout a document. Artefact descriptions in reports must clearly attribute a cause where possible and distinguish the artefact from pathological findings. The plural is 'artefacts'.
Usage
Usage note: Use 'artefact' (British) or 'artifact' (American) consistently throughout a document per house style. Do not conflate with genuine anatomical or pathological findings.
In Context
- "Scatter artefacts from the patient's metallic bridge obscured the periapical region of the upper-left first molar." — CBCT radiology report
- "The editor standardised the spelling to 'artefact' throughout the manuscript in line with the journal's British English house style." — Copy-editing log