Final answer:
Computed Radiography (CR) image receptors should be erased to eliminate phantom artifacts, prevent a Moire effect, and ensure dropout artifacts do not occur.
Step-by-step explanation:
Computed Radiography (CR) image receptors (IR) should be erased even if they haven't been used for several reasons:
- Eliminate phantom artifacts: When CR image receptors are not erased, residual images from previous exposures can appear, creating phantom artifacts and affecting the accuracy of subsequent images.
- Prevent a Moire effect: Erasing the CR image receptors helps prevent a Moire effect, which occurs when the grid pattern of the image receptors interferes with the grid pattern of the CR system, resulting in undesired patterns and distortions in the image.
- Ensure dropout artifacts do not occur: Dropout artifacts can occur if residual image information is combined with new exposure information. Erasing the image receptors helps prevent the occurrence of these artifacts.