How do motion artifacts impact the quality of an image?

Motion artifacts significantly impact the quality of medical images, primarily by causing blurring and a loss of detail. When there is movement during the image acquisition process—be it from patient motion, respiratory movement, or other factors—the resulting images can appear smeared or distorted. This blurring obscures fine details, making it difficult for radiologists and medical professionals to accurately interpret the images and assess the underlying structures or conditions.

In medical imaging, clarity and precision are crucial for diagnosis. If motion artifacts are present, they can lead to misinterpretations, missed pathologies, and potentially inaccurate treatment decisions. Addressing motion artifacts often involves using techniques to minimize patient movement, adjusting imaging parameters, or employing software correction methods to enhance the final image quality, but the essence remains that these artifacts are detrimental to the overall diagnostic utility of the image.