Partial ring artifact on cardiac CT: image presentation and clinical implication.

In computed tomography (CT), the term "artifact" is applied to any systematic discrepancy between the CT numbers in the reconstructed image and the true attenuation coefficients of the object. A partial ring artifact in cardiac CT has a unique pattern and has not been previously reported in real clinical practice. In this report, we will demonstrate the images and animations of a cardiac CT which is affected by a partial ring artifact due to a broken detector module. The different characteristics of ring artifacts on routine and cardiac CT, and the implications for clinical interpretation will also be described. In summary, when a partial ring artifact is noted incidentally on cardiac CT, we suggest interpreting the images by reviewing reconstructed images from different RR-intervals to avoid unnecessary repeated scans and additional radiation exposure.