Final answer:
One way to prevent beam-hardening artifacts when imaging a patient's paranasal sinuses is to use edge enhancement. Another method is to use a low-energy x-ray beam.
Step-by-step explanation:
Beam-hardening artifacts occur when the x-ray beam passes through dense structures, such as bone, and is attenuated more than it should be. In the case of imaging a patient's paranasal sinuses, one way to prevent beam-hardening artifacts is to use a technique called edge enhancement.
Edge enhancement involves applying an algorithm that selectively sharpens the edges of the image to enhance the visibility of structures and reduce the impact of beam-hardening artifacts. This can be done using software or digital imaging systems.
Another method to prevent beam-hardening artifacts is to use a low-energy x-ray beam. By using a lower energy, the x-ray beam is less likely to be attenuated significantly by dense structures, resulting in fewer artifacts in the image.