Cone Cutting
A radiographic projection error in which part of the image receptor is not exposed because the collimated X-ray beam has been misaligned, leaving a clear, unexposed area at the edge of the image.
Full Definition
Cone cutting results from incorrect horizontal or vertical positioning of the position-indicating device (PID) relative to the image receptor, causing the beam to miss a portion of the receptor entirely. The unexposed portion appears as a clear (white on conventional film, blank on digital sensors) region at one or more margins of the image. This error necessitates a repeat exposure, increasing patient dose. Editors should be aware that 'cone cutting' is the standard two-word hyphenated compound noun and adjective (e.g., 'cone-cutting error') in dental radiology literature. It should not be confused with foreshortening or elongation, which affect the entire image rather than omitting part of it.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate as a compound modifier ('cone-cutting error') but leave open as a noun ('cone cutting was observed').
In Context
- "Cone cutting obscured the distal root of the lower first molar, necessitating a repeat radiograph." — Clinical radiology report
- "The training manual illustrates cone-cutting errors alongside elongation and foreshortening for comparison." — Dental radiography training manual