Nuclear Medicine Imaging Artifacts

Introduction: Artifacts in Nuclear Medicine are anomalies that distort the accurate depiction of a physiological process or anatomical structure, falsely presenting them as pathological. Imaging artifacts can be categorized into various types, including instrumental, radiopharmaceutical, technical, patient, and treatment-related factors. The reporting physician must be aware of and able to identify artifacts, distinguishing them from genuine representations or variants. The interpreter of the imaging must confirm the nature of the artifacts and may need additional clinical information or examination to ascertain their cause and, if necessary, rectify them.

Methods: The ability to differentiate between artifacts and images enhances treatment efficacy. Enhanced patient outcomes can be achieved by providing more pertinent information and fostering improved communication across all teams. Awareness of the potential artifacts is crucial to identify them. A pictorial demonstration with a series of categorical examples of nuclear medicine imaging artifacts would be provided with probable innovative and available correction methods.

Results: The key headings would include: Overview of Nuclear Medicine Imaging Artifacts under various category subheadings, their mechanism of occurrence and methods to mitigate these artifacts and their effects.

Conclusions: In this exhibit, we present the imaging artifacts in nuclear medicine and the impact of interdisciplinary teamwork (technicians, nurses, and physicians, to name a few) in the early recognition and correction of these artifacts, eventually affecting patient outcomes.