Final answer:
Decreasing the reconstruction FOV in medical imaging increases spatial resolution, decreases pixel size, and can increase noise. Therefore, the incorrect statement is that pixel size is increased when in fact it decreases.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question refers to the effects of decreasing the reconstruction field of view (FOV) in medical imaging, particularly in the context of computed tomography (CT). When the reconstruction FOV is decreased, the pixel size within the image is reduced because the same matrix size now represents a smaller area, meaning each pixel corresponds to a smaller portion of the anatomy. Consequently, spatial resolution is increased as finer details are more discernible. While smaller pixel size can lead to an improvement in image detail, it can also cause an increase in noise since each pixel represents a smaller volume and fewer x-ray photons contribute to the signal, which can affect image quality. Thus, the statement that pixel size is increased is incorrect; it should state that pixel size is decreased. Overall, decreasing the reconstruction FOV increases spatial resolution, decreases pixel size, and can increase noise in the image.