What effect does the improper loading of cassettes have?

When cassettes are improperly loaded, the most significant effect is the creation of film artifacts. Artifacts are any unwanted images or flaws that appear on the radiographic film, which can result from various factors, including improper positioning of the film within the cassette. If the film is not loaded correctly, it may not be exposed uniformly to radiation, leading to streaks, lines, or areas of overexposure or underexposure on the film. These artifacts can obscure anatomical details and make the interpretation of radiographs much more challenging for radiologists or technicians.

In contrast, the other factors mentioned, such as increased exposure time, loss of sharpness, and higher radiation doses, can be influenced by various other issues unrelated specifically to cassette loading. For instance, while incorrect loading can impact sharpness due to improper film placement, the direct correlation to film artifacts is much clearer and more immediate.