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Image-quality optimization and artifact reduction in fetal magnetic resonance imaging

  • Fetal Imaging
  • Published:
Pediatric Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Fetal MRI allows for earlier and better detection of complex congenital anomalies. However, its diagnostic utility is often limited by technical barriers that introduce artifacts and reduce image quality. The main determinants of fetal MR image quality are speed of acquisition, spatial resolution and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Imaging optimization is a challenge because a change to improve one scan parameter often leads to worsening of another. Moreover, the recent introduction of fetal MRI on 3-tesla (T) scanners to achieve better SNR can amplify some technical issues. Motion, banding artifacts and aliasing artifacts impact the quality of fetal acquisitions at any field strength. High specific absorption rate (SAR) and artifacts from inhomogeneities in the radiofrequency field are important limitations of high-field-strength imaging. We discuss technical barriers that impact image quality and are important limitations to prenatal MRI diagnosis, and propose solutions to improve image quality and reduce artifacts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St., Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Fedel Machado-Rivas, John E. Kirsch & Michael S. Gee

  2. Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Fedel Machado-Rivas, Camilo Jaimes, John E. Kirsch & Michael S. Gee

  3. Department of Radiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Camilo Jaimes

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  1. Fedel Machado-Rivas
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  2. Camilo Jaimes
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  3. John E. Kirsch
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  4. Michael S. Gee
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Correspondence to Michael S. Gee.

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Machado-Rivas, F., Jaimes, C., Kirsch, J.E. et al. Image-quality optimization and artifact reduction in fetal magnetic resonance imaging. Pediatr Radiol 50, 1830–1838 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-020-04672-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-020-04672-7

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