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An illustrative review to understand and manage metal-induced artifacts in musculoskeletal MRI: a primer and updates

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Abstract

This article reviews and explains the basic physical principles of metal-induced MRI artifacts, describes simple ways to reduce them, and presents specific reduction solutions. Artifacts include signal loss, pile-up artifacts, geometric distortion, and failure of fat suppression. Their nature and origins are reviewed and explained though schematic representations that ease the understanding. Then, optimization of simple acquisition parameters is detailed. Lastly, dedicated sequences and options specifically developed to reduce metal artifacts (VAT, SEMAC, and MAVRIC) are explained.

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Acknowledgments

The authors warmly thank Nadine Mischler and Franck Girard for illustrations and manuscript editing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical imaging department, University Hospital of Strasbourg, 10 Av. Molière, F- 67098, Strasbourg, France

    J. P. Dillenseger, S. Molière, P. Choquet, C. Goetz & G. Bierry

  2. Icube, CNRS, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France

    J. P. Dillenseger, P. Choquet, C. Goetz, M. Ehlinger & G. Bierry

  3. Translational Medicine Research Federation, Strasbourg Medical School, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France

    J. P. Dillenseger, P. Choquet, C. Goetz, M. Ehlinger & G. Bierry

  4. Department of orthopedic surgery, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France

    M. Ehlinger

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  1. J. P. Dillenseger
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  2. S. Molière
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  3. P. Choquet
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Correspondence to G. Bierry.

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Dillenseger, J.P., Molière, S., Choquet, P. et al. An illustrative review to understand and manage metal-induced artifacts in musculoskeletal MRI: a primer and updates. Skeletal Radiol 45, 677–688 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-016-2338-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-016-2338-2

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