Computed Tomography Technologist Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Guide for Exam Success!

The major downfall of third generation scanners was indeed the presence of ring artifacts. These scanners utilized a fan-shaped beam of x-rays and included a detector array that swept through an arc to capture images. However, any issues with the individual detector elements, such as malfunctioning or miscalibrated detectors, could result in artifacts that appeared as rings or bands on the final images. This artifact was particularly problematic because it could obscure diagnostics and reduce image quality, leading to potential misinterpretation.

The presence of ring artifacts highlighted the limitations in technology and the need for advancements in the design of scanners which ultimately led to improvements in subsequent generations. In contrast, other options focus on different aspects that may have been limitations in varying degrees but were not as defining as the issue of ring artifacts for third generation scanners. For example, while increased noise levels and higher radiation doses were concerns within CT technology, these issues were more pronounced in the context of the preceding generations or in specific scenarios. Slow processing times were also challenges but were not unique to the third generation alone. Thus, ring artifacts stand out as a significant and characteristic downfall for this age of CT technology.