Artifacts due to movement in rotational panoramic radiography

Image quality due to movement of the patient during the exposure is a common problem in conventional radiography. The resulting artifacts in the image are characteristic and easily identifiable blurring. The unique mechanics of image production and the prolonged exposure time used in rotational panoramic radiography can cause very different disturbances in the diagnostic image. The illustrations presented here are extreme examples of such artifacts, selected for clear illustration in a printed image. The challenge to the clinician is to identify the full spectrum of such distortions, from the obvious ones to the much more subtle effects of similar minor distortions that may not be so easily recognized as artifacts.