Smaller CT pixels don’t always mean better spatial resolution

Reducing CT field of view while keeping matrix constant yields smaller pixels (e.g., 512 matrix, 200-mm FOV = 0.39 mm vs 400-mm FOV = 0.78 mm), but true spatial resolution may not improve. Finer spatial sampling does not guarantee more anatomical detail.

• Pixel size is calculated as reconstructed field of view divided by matrix size.
• Smaller pixels provide finer spatial sampling but do not automatically translate into more anatomical detail.
• True spatial resolution is limited by other factors in the imaging chain, not just pixel dimensions.

Automated summary

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