What technique can be employed to help reduce patient motion during imaging?

The technique of increasing pitch in imaging is important for reducing patient motion. When pitch is increased during a CT scan, the table moves faster through the gantry, which can help to minimize the overall time the patient is required to remain still. This is especially beneficial in scenarios where patients may find it difficult to stay motionless, such as children or individuals in discomfort. A shorter duration of time for image acquisition means that patient motion—such as breathing or muscle spasms—has less chance to affect the quality of the images.

In contrast, while reducing the field of view (FOV) and decreasing the frame rate could theoretically manage aspects of imaging resolution or data capture, they do not address motion directly. Furthermore, shortening exposure time can enhance patient safety by reducing radiation dose, but it could also have the opposite effect if not managed carefully, potentially leading to a need for longer imaging times or lower quality images, which could increase the risk of motion artifacts. Hence, increasing pitch is the most effective approach for managing and mitigating patient motion during imaging.