An apparatus and process for determining and displaying a helical artifact index to a system operator are provided. The HAI is determined by acquiring and processing imaging data of a phantom. The HAI is then displayed to the operator on a console so that the operator may, if necessary, reset the scanning parameters or select a new scanning protocol that will result in a reconstructed image of a subject having reduced artifact presence. By providing a likelihood of artifact presence to the system operator, the present invention eliminates the need for the operator to recall those scanning profiles that are susceptible to high artifact presence.