Motion artifacts in CT scans: a study by computer simulation and mechanical phantom

Computed tomography (CT) is one of the most important tools in the diagnosis of thoracic tumors. However, during the scanning process, respiratory motion causes changes in the position and shape of the tumor, creating motion artifacts in the CT scan. This can lead to misdiagnosis of the size and position of the tumor, and can affect the effectiveness of treatment. This study develops a computer model of the movement of the thorax, and simulates the movement of a lung tumor caused by breathing during a CT scan. We show that adjusting the CT slice thickness is sufficient to determine the center of displacement and maximum displacement of a tumor during normal breathing. This model can be applied in the clinical diagnostic use of CT equipment. It will assist in finding the position of lung tumors from motion artifacts in CT scans. The target margin for treatment can thus be defined more accurately, so that appropriate doses of radiation can be applied to the target area, and irradiation of healthy tissue avoided.