What is a common effect of inadequate patient preparation before imaging studies?

Inadequate patient preparation before imaging studies can lead to inaccurate imaging results. Proper preparation is crucial because it ensures that there are no confounding variables, such as food, medications, or even the patient's posture or hydration status, that could distort the images obtained during the procedure. For instance, in the case of nuclear medicine studies, if a patient has residual food in their system or has not followed specific instructions regarding hydration, it may obscure the uptake of the radiopharmaceutical and result in unclear or misleading scans. Accurate imaging results are essential for proper diagnosis and treatment planning, making patient preparation a critical step in the imaging process.