Question

Which is NOT an advantage of a helical study compared to a conventional serial CT study?

1) minimal anatomical misregistration sometimes caused by inconsistent breath-holding
2) shorter total exam time
3) can retrospectively reconstruct a slice at any arbitrary position
4) offers the best image quality for a brain exam

Answer 1

The main disadvantage of helical studies compared to conventional serial CT studies is compromised image quality.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer is 4) offers the best image quality for a brain exam. In a helical study, the CT scanner moves continuously in a helical path while acquiring data. This allows for faster scanning since there is no need to stop and reposition the patient after each scan. However, a drawback of helical studies compared to conventional serial CT studies is that the image quality may be compromised due to the continuous motion. This can lead to slightly blurred images or a lower level of detail.