Abstract
In performing a CT examination the user has to inform the apparatus about the position of the patient. This is a potential source of error. Right and left do sometimes get mixed up because of mistakes when programming the CT scanner. This is very treacherous when examining a symmetrical organ like the brain. To avoid this kind of accident some hospitals use a radiopaque catheter in the head support as a sidemarker. However, there is no general convention or rule as to the position of the catheter. It usually has a small cross sectional area and therefore has to have a rather high attenuation to be seen with the ordinary window settings used when evaluating the brain. This does sometimes give disturbing artifacts. The need for a good computer independent sidemarker for CT scanners is therefore obvious.
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