Computed Tomography Technologist Practice Exam 2025 - Free CT Technologist Practice Questions and Study Guide

Smaller pixel sizes in CT imaging significantly improve spatial resolution, which is the ability to distinguish between closely spaced objects in the image. When pixel sizes are reduced, the amount of detail that can be captured in an image increases, allowing for clearer differentiation of small structures. This enhanced detail is crucial in medical imaging, where identifying fine anatomical details can impact diagnosis and treatment.

Specifically, smaller pixel sizes minimize the phenomenon known as volume averaging. This occurs when tissue of different densities is averaged together within a larger voxel (volume pixel), which can obscure the visibility of smaller structures. By using smaller pixels, the chances of blending different densities into a single value are reduced, leading to clearer representation of individual structures. This enhanced clarity is essential for accurate interpretation of images and better clinical outcomes.

On the other hand, while smaller pixel sizes have various implications, they do not directly impact patient radiation exposure, the speed of imaging, or necessarily simplify image processing. These aspects are influenced by other technical parameters and practices in CT imaging. Therefore, the connection between smaller pixel sizes and improved spatial resolution through reduced volume averaging is the key point to focus on here.