Investig Magn Reson Imaging.  2019 Dec;23(4):341-350. 10.13104/imri.2019.23.4.341.

Parameters Affecting India Ink Artifacts on Opposed-Phase MR Images

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Radiology, Dong-A University Medical Center, Busan, Korea. hdhdoc@dau.ac.kr

Abstract

PURPOSE
To determine the MR parameters affecting India ink artifacts on opposed-phase chemical shift magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The use of a female Sprague-Dawley rat was approved by our Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Using an iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least-squares estimation (IDEAL) images, which is a modified Dixon method, axial opposed-phase images of the abdominal cavity were obtained with different MR parameters: series 1, different repetition times (TRs; 400, 2000, and 4000 ms); series 2, different echo times (TEs; 10, 50, and 100 ms); series 3, different field of views (FOVs; 6, 8, 16, and 24 cm); series 4, different echo train lengths (ETLs; 2, 4, and 8); series 5, different bandwidths (25, 50, and 85); and series 6, different slice thicknesses (1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 mm). Artifacts on opposed images obtained with different parameters were compared subjectively by two radiologists. For objective analysis, the thickness of the artifact was measured. Spearman's correlation between altered MR parameters and thicknesses of India ink artifact was obtained via objective analysis.
RESULTS
India ink artifact was increasingly apparent using shorter TE, larger FOV and ETL, and thicker slices upon subjective analysis. The objective analysis revealed a strong negative correlation between the thickness of the artifact and TE (r = -0.870, P < 0.01); however, strong positive correlations were found between FOV (r = 0.854, P < 0.01) and slice thickness (r = 0.971, P < 0.01).
CONCLUSION
India ink artifact was thicker with shorter TE, larger FOV, and larger slice thickness.

Keyword

India ink artifact; Dixon; Chemical shift

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Cavity
Animals
Artifacts*
Female
Humans
India*
Ink*
Methods
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Water
Water

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Opposed-phase images with different sequences. (a, d) T2-weighted opposed-phase image (TR, 4000 ms; TE, 100 ms) and magnified image; (b, e) T1-weighted opposed-phase image (TR, 400 ms; TE, 10 ms) and magnified image; and (c, f) proton density opposed-phase image (TR, 4000 ms; TE, 10 ms) and magnified image. India ink artifacts (arrows and arrowheads) in sequences using short TE are more apparent than in sequences using long TE. T1-weighted opposed-phase image (b) and proton density opposed-phase image (c) show thicker artifact than T2-weighted opposed-phase image (a). The thickness of the artifact (arrows in d-f) was 4.6 mm on d, 7.6 mm on e, and 7.6 mm on f. TE = echo time; TR = repetition time.

  • Fig. 2 Opposed-phase images with different repetition times (a, 400 ms; b, 2000 ms; c, 4000 ms) and magnified images (d, 400 ms; e, 2000 ms; f, 4000 ms) at the level of the lower pole in the left kidney. Other MR parameters were identical (echo time, 10 ms; field of view, 8 cm; echo train length, 2; bandwidth, 50; slice thickness, 4 mm). The images showed a similar thickness of India ink artifacts (arrows and arrowheads) encircling the retroperitoneal fat in both sides.

  • Fig. 3 Opposed-phase images with different echo times (a, 100 ms; b, 50 ms; c, 10 ms) at the level of the lower pole of the left kidney and magnified images (d, 100 ms; e, 50 ms; f, 10 ms). Other MR parameters were controlled similarly (repetition time, 4000 ms; field of view, 8 cm; echo train length, 2; bandwidth, 50; slice thickness, 4 mm). The thickness of India ink artifacts (arrows and arrowheads) increased as the echo time decreased.

  • Fig. 4 Opposed-phase images with different fields of views (a, 6 cm; b, 8 cm; c, 16 cm; d, 24 cm) at the level of mid poles in both kidneys. Other MR parameters were similar (repetition time, 400 ms; echo time, 10 ms; echo train length, 2; bandwidth, 50; slice thickness, 4 mm). The India ink artifact (arrows) was thicker with increased field of view.

  • Fig. 5 Opposed-phase images with different echo train lengths (a, 2; b, 4; c, 8) at the level of mid poles of both kidneys and magnified images (d, 2; e, 4; and f, 8). Other MR parameters were identical (repetition time, 400 ms; echo time, 10 ms; field of view, 8 cm; bandwidth, 50; and slice thickness, 4 mm). As echo train length increased, the India ink artifact surrounding the retroperitoneal fat (arrows) appeared to be thickened. However, the artifact was not uniform as seen in c and f due to blurring along the black stripe, resulting in possible measurement errors.

  • Fig. 6 Opposed-phase images with different bandwidths (a, 25; b, 50; c, 85) at the level of mid poles in both kidneys. Other MR parameters were controlled similarly (repetition time, 400 ms; echo time, 10 ms; field of view, 8 cm; echo train length, 2; slice thickness, 4 mm). The thickness of India ink artifacts enclosing the retroperitoneal fat (arrows) was similar.

  • Fig. 7 Opposed-phase images with different slice thicknesses (a, 1 mm; b, 2 mm; c, 4 mm; d, 8 mm; e, 16 mm) at the level of mid poles in both kidneys. Other MR parameters remained the same (repetition time, 400 ms; echo time, 10 ms; field of view, 8 cm; echo train length, 2; bandwidth, 50). India ink artifacts encircling the retroperitoneal fat (arrows) were not grossly different at slice thicknesses of 1, 2 and 4 mm (a-c). They increased in thickness as the slice thickness was enhanced to 8 and 16 mm (d, e).


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