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Magnetic Resonance Imaging Artifacts

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Pitfalls in Musculoskeletal Radiology

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become a very important diagnostic tool in imaging a large number of musculoskeletal abnormalities. Technological advances have greatly improved the image quality and diagnostic capabilities, with shorter scanning times. Newer high-field-strength magnets have overcome many previous limitations and even made functional assessment possible. Unfortunately, MRI is still prone to a number of well-recognized artifacts, some of which have gained more importance with newer, high-field-strength machines and increasing use of MRI in postoperative patients. There has been a significant increase in number of joint replacement procedures with resultant increase in the demand for MRI. MRI evaluation can be challenging in these cases, on multiple fronts. Susceptibility artifacts can obscure a large portion of the image, and failure of fat suppression can easily mimic pathology. MRI artifacts can result from poor scanning technique and external factors or even may be related to inherent patient factors. Artifacts can be broadly classified into motion, susceptibility, chemical shift, and protocol error artifacts. Magic angle phenomenon is a unique artifact that is most often seen in the tendons and the ligaments. Hyperintense signal from this artifact can be wrongly interpreted as pathology. A radiologist needs to be aware of these artifacts and the various ways to correct or reduce them, in order to avoid possible misinterpretations.

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Abbreviations

CSF:

Cerebrospinal fluid

CT:

Computed tomography

EPI:

Echo planar imaging

FOV:

Field of view

FSE:

Fast spin-echo

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

RF:

Radiofrequency

SNR:

Signal-to-noise ratio

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, 90 Yishun Central, Singapore, 768828, Republic of Singapore

    Dinesh R. Singh MBBS, DNB, MMed, FRCR, Michael S. M. Chin DCR & Wilfred C. G. Peh MD, FRCPE, FRCPG, FRCR

  2. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, Singapore, 169608, Republic of Singapore

    Helmut Rumpel PhD

Authors
  1. Dinesh R. Singh MBBS, DNB, MMed, FRCR
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  2. Helmut Rumpel PhD
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  3. Michael S. M. Chin DCR
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  4. Wilfred C. G. Peh MD, FRCPE, FRCPG, FRCR
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dinesh R. Singh MBBS, DNB, MMed, FRCR .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore, Singapore

    Wilfred C. G. Peh

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Singh, D.R., Rumpel, H., Chin, M.S.M., Peh, W.C.G. (2017). Magnetic Resonance Imaging Artifacts. In: Peh, W. (eds) Pitfalls in Musculoskeletal Radiology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53496-1_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53496-1_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-53494-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-53496-1

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