How would you correct a grid cut-off artifact at the edge of the image?

• A. Re-center the CR/IR with proper alignment to the grid and ensure correct SID and alignment
• B. Increase exposure factors to overcome loss
• C. Change to non-grid technique
• D. Shift patient position

Answer: (A)

Grid cut-off at the edge happens when the x-ray beam isn’t aligned properly with the grid. If the central ray is off-center or the CR/IR isn’t perpendicular to the grid, the grid doesn’t receive the beam evenly, so the outer margins don’t get enough exposure and you see light or dark edges on the image.

The way to fix it is to re-center the CR and the image receptor so the beam is aimed at the grid’s center, and to verify the SID and overall alignment. When the CR is aligned with the grid and the SID is appropriate, the grid can properly absorb scatter while delivering uniform exposure across the entire image, eliminating the edge cutoff.

Increasing exposure would raise overall dose but won’t correct the geometric mismatch causing the cutoff. Switching to a non-grid technique removes the grid artifact but loses the benefits of the grid. Shifting the patient can help if the anatomy was far off-center, but the core fix is proper alignment and centering of the CR/IR with the grid.