Computed Tomography Technologist Practice Exam 2026 - Free CT Technologist Practice Questions and Study Guide

Using thicker CT slices can result in missing very small objects during imaging. Thicker slices encompass a larger volume of tissue, which can blur the details and make it difficult to visualize small structures or lesions clearly. In CT imaging, spatial resolution is significantly influenced by slice thickness. Thinner slices provide better spatial resolution, allowing for the differentiation of closely spaced anatomical structures or small pathologies. Conversely, when thick slices are used, the likelihood of not detecting small but clinically significant findings increases, since these smaller entities may fall outside the average volume captured in a thicker slice.

While thicker slices may reduce image reconstruction time and can sometimes improve patient comfort by decreasing scan duration, these benefits come at the expense of image clarity and sensitivity to smaller anatomical details, which is a critical component for accurate diagnosis.