J Korean Radiol Soc.  1992 Jun;28(3):321-326.

Artifacts in MR imaging caused by air and fat: an experimental study

• Park KJ
• Choi BI
• Chang KH
• Cha SH
• Kim SJ

Abstract

To investigate the nature of artifacts caused by air and chemical shift by fat, a test tube phantom study was performed in 2.0T and 0.5T superconducting magnetic resonance imaging systems in various imaging sequences. Spatial mismapping and signal change made image distortion in spin echo images of the air-column and severe signal voids in gradient echo images. Chemical shift artifacts appeared in the planes of frequency-encoding axis as crescent-shaped signal voids and summated bright signals, Both artifacts were more prominent in high field strength, Images at 0.5T showed more severe artifacts in the T2-weighted images than those in the other sequences. As the acquisition matrix increased, truncation artifacts decreased and susceptibility artifacts in gradient echo images diminished. Familiarity with causes, appearances and mechanisms of various artifacts will help radiologists for interpretation of MRI.

MeSH Terms

Artifacts*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Recognition (Psychology)