MR Artifacts - Jackson

MR Artifacts - E.F.
Jackson
Common MR Artifacts and

Techniques to Minimize Them
Edward F. Jackson, PhD
Department of Imaging Physics
MDACC MR Research
Outline
• Review of the basics of MR imaging
• Review of the basic properties of k-space
• Motion induced artifacts
• Metal object artifacts
• Aliasing and N/2 artifacts
• Chemical shift artifacts
• Truncation artifacts
• System/environment related artifacts
– Geometric distortions
– RF coil problems
– Radiofrequency interference
– Receiver/array processor/memory problems – “spike noise”
MDACC MR Research
1
MR Artifacts - E.F. Jackson
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Basic ingredients:
– Non-zero magnetic moment nuclei Nuclear
– Static magnetic field, Bo Magnetic
– Radiofrequency field, B1 Resonance
– Magnetic field gradients, Gx,y,z
MDACC MR Research
Slice Selection
– Gradient along z-axis modifies B0 to produce a range of Larmor
frequencies which vary with position.
– Max amplitudes ~ 10-60 mT/m
Gz
ω0 = γ ⋅ B0
ω z = γ ⋅ ( B0 + zGz )
ω -z ω0 ωz
∆ω
∆z =
γ Gz
MDACC MR Research Image compliments of Carl Keener, PhD
2
Frequency Encoding
To encode the spatial information in the x-axis, another gradient (Gx) is used:
ω -x ωx
ω0
ωx = γ (Bo+ x Gx) <== one-to-one correspondence between frequency and position

Phase Encoding
To encode the spatial information in the y-axis, a 3rd gradient (Gy) is used
ωt - φy
ω0
ωt + φy
3
Spin Echo Imaging Sequence

TR
TE
900 1800 900 1800
RF
...
Gslice
...
Gphase
...
Gfreq
...
Signal
...
k-space
2nd echo
1st echo
Reconstructing the Image
– image has been phase-encoded – image has been frequency-

in the one direction encoded in other dimension
• gradient applied before • gradient applied during
frequency-encoding & sampling
sampling
4
Image Formation
∞ ∞ − i 2π ( k x x + k y y )
F (k x , k y ) = ∫ ∫ ρ ( x, y ) e dx dy
−∞ −∞
kr = γ ∫ Gr (t ) dt
|2D FFT|
Re[s(t,n)] Im[s(t,n)]
S(ω,φ)
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k-space properties
• Center
– maximum signal strength
– low-frequency information
(data)
• Periphery ∆ kx
– minimum signal strength
– high-frequency data (edges)
∆ ky
k-space
spatial frequency (cm-1)
5
k-space properties
All 256x256 Central 64x64 Central 192x192 Outer 64x64
MDACC MR Research
k-space properties
No Spike Spike at (135, 135) Spike at (135, 185)

Effect of a single noise spike at varying locations in k-space. As there is no time-frequency
localization property of the Fourier transform, each point in one domain contributes to all
points in the transform domain. (Basis functions have infinite support.)
MDACC MR Research
6
SNR Equation
In general, the SNR equation in MRI is given by
⎧ 1 ⎫
SNR ∝ ⎨ ρ1H δ υ δ φ δ s Nυ Nφ N ave B0 ⎬ f
⎩ BW ⎭
where
ρ1H is the proton density
δυ δφ δs is the voxel volume (δs is the slice thickness)
Nυ is the number of frequency-encoded points
Nφ is the number of phase-encoding steps
Nave is the number of averages (NEX, NSA, etc.)
BW is the sampling bandwidth
Bo is the static field strength
f is a variable that depends on sequence, TE, TR, coil, etc.
MDACC MR Research
SNR, Acquisition Time, and Resolution

Defining δx as FOVx/Nx, the SNR equation can be rewritten as:
FOVυ FOVφ
SNR ∝ ρ1H δs N ave B0 f
Nυ N φ BW
In addition to this expression for SNR, we should consider the equations for
resolution and scan time:
Tscan = TR Nave Nφ Í Acquisition time (ideal multislice imaging)
δυ = FOVυ / Nυ Í Resolution in the frequency-encoding direction
δφ = FOVφ / Nφ Í Resolution in in the phase-encoding direction
MDACC MR Research
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MRI Artifacts
Most common artifacts
– Motion-induced (blood flow, respiration, etc) artifacts
– Aliasing or “wrap-around” artifact
– Metal object artifacts
– Chemical shift artifacts
– Truncation artifacts
– System-related artifacts
• Distortions (gradient and static field inhomogeneities)
• RF coil problems and radiofrequency interference
• Receiver/memory/array processor problems
MDACC MR Research
Motion Artifacts
• Stationary objects with applied gradient => linear phase

accrual, corrected by refocusing pulses
• Moving objects with applied gradient => nonlinear phase
accrual, not corrected by refocusing pulses (typically)
• Most common motion artifacts:
– Respiratory
– Blood flow (especially pulsatile)
MDACC MR Research
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Motion Artifacts
Respiration
Left: No correction
Right: Multiple NEX averaging
Blood Flow
Left: No correction
Right: Superior SAT pulse
MDACC MR Research
Respiratory Artifacts
• Breath hold acquisitions
– Not appropriate for all sequences or for all patients.
• Multiple averages (NEX, NAV, NSA, etc.)
– Requires significant scan time!
• Respiratory compensation techniques
– Use respiratory trace information to order the phase encoding steps thereby
minimizing phase artifacts (ghosting). (Loose some control on scan timing,
doesn’t work particularly well if breathing is irregular.)
• Respiratory triggering techniques
– Acquire data only during consistent portions of the respiratory cycle. (Same
general negatives as above.)
• Navigator echo techniques
– Use rapid navigator techniques to track motion to correct phase ghosting errors.
(Not available on all scanners or for all sequences on a given scanner.)
MDACC MR Research
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Spin Echo Imaging Sequence

TR
TE
900 1800 900 1800
RF
...
Gslice
...
Gphase
...
Gfreq
...
Signal
...
k-space
2nd echo
1st echo
Flow Effects
v2
v1
v2 > v1
Stationary spins
Ref: GE Signa Applications Guide, Vol 3 MDACC MR Research
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Flow Compensation
Ref: GE Signa Applications Guide, Vol 3

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Spatial Saturation
Blood Flow
90o Sat 90o-180o

Pulse SE Pulses
MDACC MR Research
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Spatial Saturation
(A) No Sat Pulse

(B) Inferior Sat Pulse
(C) Superior Sat Pulse
(D) Inferior and Superior
Sat Pulses
Ref: GE Signa Applications Guide, Vol 1

MDACC MR Research
Motion Artifacts
Uncontrolled Coughing Swallowing

Left: Motion artifact corrupted
Right: Motion artifact eliminated
wwwrad.pulmonary.ubc.ca/stpaulsstuff/MRartifacts.html
using anterior SAT pulse
MDACC MR Research
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Motion Artifacts
Peristaltic Motion
Left: No correction Right: Glucagon injection
MDACC MR Research
Aliasing or “Wrap-Around” Artifacts

FOV
Aliased to lower
frequency
Aliased to higher
frequency
-fmax f0 fmax
Aliased image
f aliased = f true − 2 f Nyquist
MDACC MR Research
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Aliasing or “Wrap-Around” Artifacts
Left: No correction Right: “No Phase Wrap”

MDACC MR Research
Aliasing Artifacts
MDACC MR Research
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Aliasing Artifacts
• Possible solutions:
– Use larger FOV (disadvantage: loss of spatial resolution)
– Use surface coil (disadvantage: possible anatomic scan range
limitations unless appropriate phased array is available)
– Use oversampling or “no phase wrap” options
• Increases FOV by 2x, but only displays the original FOV
• Increases phase encode matrix by 2x to keep same resolution
• Uses partial Fourier reconstruction (homodyne) to keep scan
time approximately the same
• SNR remains unchanged given the 3 steps above
MDACC MR Research
Metal Object Artifacts
Metallic objects can cause distortions of the static and gradient

fields, RF fields, or both
– Ferromagnetic objects - distort Bo and B1 fields
– Non-ferromagnetic metal objects - distort B1 fields
Typical effects are “signal voids” and/or geometric distortions.
MDACC MR Research
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Braces
Metal
Implants
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Effect of Metal on FatSat Effect of Small Letter “c”

wwwrad.pulmonary.ubc.ca/stpaulsstuff/MRartifacts.html Tattoo on Upper Arm
MDACC MR Research
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3.0T 1.5T
metal prosthetic
BW=125 kHz BW=50kHz
As susceptibility and “metal” artifacts are more significant at 3.0T field strengths, the receiver
bandwidth is typically much higher than at 1.5T or below. The inherent gain in signal to noise
ratio at 3.0T makes such a choice possible without loss of image quality.
MDACC MR Research Images compliments of R. Jason Stafford, Ph.D.
1 mm x 3 mm metal shaving
missed on axial CT
Effect of braces, including “out of
slice” contamination artifact (arrow)
MDACC MR Research
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Out of Slice Contamination Artifact
“Out of slice”
contamination artifact
from thick sections (10
mm) using a coil with a
large active volume.
Sidelobes of slice-
selective pulse give rise
to artifact which
“marches” in the
frequency encoding
direction by a fixed
amount each image.
MDACC MR Research
“Annefact” Artifact
Due to anatomy within the

active volume of the coil, but
outside the FOV. Signal from
such regions give rise to
“ghosts” in the phase encoding
direction. (Keep the active coil
region matched as closely to the
anatomy being imaged as
possible!)
More of a problem in sagittal
spine imaging, particularly T-
and L-spine areas.
MDACC MR Research
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Chemical Shift Artifacts

• Water and fat don’t resonate at the same frequency
• Larmor equation: ν = γ (B0 + Gx x)
• Difference in frequency translates to a difference in position
(both in-plane and slice location)
• Magnitude of in-plane shift of fat and water pixels:
∆ν ∆ν • FOV
δ = =
γ G BW
• Dominant acquisition parameters that affect shift: FOV and

bandwidth
MDACC MR Research
The magnitude of the in-plane chemical shift-induced

spatial errors are:
– Directly proportional to Bo
– Inversely proportional to the amplitude of the frequency-

encoding gradient field (Gν)
– Inversely proportional to the sampling bandwidth, since

decreasing BW results in decreasing Gν (for the same FOV)
MDACC MR Research
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Chemical Shift Artifact
First Echo: TE/TR=30/3000ms Second Echo: TE/TR=100/3000ms

BW = ±15.6 kHz BW = ±3.9 kHz
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Chemical Shift Artifact
Localizer, 48 cm FOV SSFSE, 32 cm FOV

BW = ±31.3 kHz Î 1.7 mm shift BW = ±62.5 kHz Î 0.6 mm
MDACC MR Research
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To minimize chemical shift artifacts:
– Work at lower field strengths (not a practical solution!)
– Use the smallest possible FOV (tradeoff: SNR)
– Increase the receiver bandwidth (tradeoff: SNR)
– Use fat suppression techniques to eliminate signal from fat (not

always possible or practical).
Bullets 1-3 are also applicable to minimize susceptibility

artifacts.
MDACC MR Research
Truncation Artifacts
• Occur at high contrast edges.

• Due to Gibb’s phenomenon.
• Also known as “ringing” artifact.
• Minimized by increasing matrix size.
Actual intensity profile Measured intensity profile

MDACC MR Research
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256x128 matrix 256x256 matrix

MDACC MR Research

MDACC MR Research
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MDACC MR Research
To minimize truncation artifacts:

– Increase the matrix size (tradeoff: SNR)
MDACC MR Research
23
Fast Spin Echo Specific Artifacts

• Fast spin echo (FSE) imaging techniques are used to
dramatically reduce the scan time, particularly for T2-
weighted imaging.
• One price of the increased acquisition rate, however, is the
potential effect of T2-blurring.
• For conventional SE and gradient echo techniques, the point
spread function is independent of T2. This is not the case for
FSE where there is no well-defined value for TE.
• To understand the T2-blurring phenomenon, a brief review of
the FSE sequence is helpful.
MDACC MR Research
Multi-Echo Spin-Echo Imaging
MDACC MR Research
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Fast Spin Echo Imaging
– In the FSE sequence, unlike the multi-echo SE sequence,

each of the ETL echoes is uniquely phase-encoded.
– Result: We can fill k-space in 1/ETL of the time normally
required. This is very advantageous for T2-weighted
imaging.
– Example: If a conventional multi-echo SE sequence
requires 10 min to acquire a set of images, an FSE sequence
with comparable weighting and an ETL of 10 might require
only 1 min.
MDACC MR Research
Fast Spin-Echo Imaging
MDACC MR Research
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Fast Spin Echo - Advantages
• 1) Speed
Can acquire faster image sets, or improve the SNR or
resolution of a given image in the same amount of time (or
less) required for multi-echo SE imaging.
• 2) Decreased susceptibility artifacts

Dramatically less artifacts at interfaces such as tissue/air or
tissue/bone in T2-weighted images as compared to GRE.
(Even less susceptibility artifacts than obtained with SE
imaging.)
MDACC MR Research
Fast Spin Echo - Disadvantages
• 1) Increased specific absorption rate (SAR)

The use of multiple 180o pulses in rapid succession deposits
significant RF energy into the patient and may actually limit the
speed advantage of the FSE sequence. (A 180o pulse contains 4x
the energy of a 90o pulse.)
• 2) Less susceptibility-dependent contrast

The decreased susceptibility artifacts come at some price. In FSE
images, contrast due to substances such as iron is less than that
obtained with comparable SE sequences. Therefore, iron-
containing structures are not as well-visualized (nor is paramagnetic
deoxyhemoglobin).
MDACC MR Research
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Fast Spin Echo - Disadvantages
• 3) “T2-blurring”
• Increased blurring can occur in the phase-encoding
direction when using short TEeff values and/or long
ETLs.
• The effect is more evident for tissues with short T2
values.
• 4) Fat is brighter than on a comparable SE sequence
MDACC MR Research
T2-Blurring
T2 Decay
120
100
Signal Intensity (%)
80
60
T2 = 300 ms
40
20
0 T2 = 60 ms
0 50 100 150 200
Time (ms)
MDACC MR Research
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T2-Blurring
Vertical Profile (freq encoding)
Horizontal Profile (phase)
X. Joe Zhou, PhD

MDACC MR Research
T2-Blurring
ETL = 2 ETL = 4 ETL = 16
T2 decreases as the tube # increases from 1-11

MDACC MR Research
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T2-Blurring
• The T2-blurring effect can be decreased by:

– increasing the number of phase-encoding steps, and/or
– decreasing the ETL.
– Both of these options, however, come at a price (time).
• The effect can also be decreased by decreasing

the echo spacing (time between consecutive 180o
pulses).
MDACC MR Research
System Related Artifacts
• Magnetic Field Inhomogeneity

– Static Field
– Gradient Fields
• RF Coil Problems
• RF Interference Artifacts
• RF Receiver / Array Processor / Memory Problems
MDACC MR Research
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Distortion Artifacts
Magnetic field inhomogeneities result in geometric distortion

of the image. (Frequency and phase related to position.)
Magnitude of distortion depends on gradient amplitude.
0.2 T Magnet
Left: BW = 32 kHz
Right: BW = 8 kHz
MDACC MR Research
Chemical Saturation
90o saturation pulses applied at frequencies indicated by grey regions
1H MRS Spectrum from Normal Human Gastrocnemius Muscle

MDACC MR Research
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Chem-Sat
900sat 900 1800
RF
Gspoiler
Signal
MDACC MR Research
Chem-Sat
90ofat 90o 180o
Water
Fat
MDACC MR Research
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Effect of Inhomogeneity on “FatSat”
Fat Sat failure due to field

inhomogeneities (arrows).
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Gradient Field Nonlinearities
Gzz
MDACC MR Research
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Gradient Field Nonlinearity Effects

In-Plane Distortion
Slice Plane at Isocenter

– 20 cm FOV
– White circles: with gradient non-
linearity correction
– Black circles: without gradient non-
– Maximum error without correction:
~ 4.5 mm at ±10 cm from isocenter
– Maximum error with correction:
< 1 mm at ±10 cm from isocenter
MDACC MR Research
Gradient Field Nonlinearity Effects

In-Plane Distortion
Slice Plane at 20 cm from

Isocenter
– 20 cm FOV
– White circles: with gradient non-
– Black circles: without gradient non-
– Maximum error without correction:
~ 5.5 cm at ±10 cm from isocenter
– Maximum error with correction:
< 2 mm at ±10 cm from isocenter
MDACC MR Research
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Not an Artifact!
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Gradient Amplifier Failure
MDACC MR Research
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Radiofrequency Coil Problems
• Typically result in poor SNR

• For phased-array coils, single coil elements may begin to fail
resulting in a localized area of low SNR adjacent to the
failed element.
• Poor decoupling of the receiver and transmit coils will also
give rise to lower SNR (and possible receiver coil damage).
MDACC MR Research
Radiofrequency Interference
• MR scanner is basically a specialized spectrum analyzer
• Any signal in the active bandwidth is received and mapped to
an image position. Artifacts are bands or “zippers” of
intensity perpendicular to the frequency-encoding direction.
• Internal RFI: Single “zipper” at center of FOV
• External RFI: Single or multiple bands.
• Scanner is in a Faraday cage to minimize RFI (typical
shielding requirement: 100 dB attenuation at 100 MHz for
1.5T and 100 dB attenuation at 150-170 MHz for 3.0T).
MDACC MR Research
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Frequency-encoding direction
MDACC MR Research
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Receiver/Array Processor/Memory Errors
• Bad data values due to acquisition or storage problems can

cause very dramatic artifacts.
• Such “spike noise” artifacts appear as a repeated pattern
across the entire FOV. (Woven-pattern appearance, “fields
of grain” appearance, etc.) Exact appearance depends on
where in k-space the spike (or spikes) occurred.
• Can occur due to receive chain component failure OR true
spike noise due to electrical arcing, etc.
MDACC MR Research
“Spike Noise” Artifacts
No Spike Spike at (135, 135) Spike at (135, 185)

Effect of a single noise spike at varying locations in k-space. As there is no time-frequency
localization property of the Fourier transform, each point in one domain contributes to all
points in the transform domain. (Basis functions have infinite support.)
MDACC MR Research
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“Spike Noise” Artifacts
MDACC MR Research
References
• www.users.on.net/vision/#education
• wwwrad.pulmonary.ubc.ca/stpaulsstuff/MRartifacts.html
• airto.bmap.ucla.edu/BMCweb/SharedCode/MRArtifacts/MRArtifacts.html
• J Zhuo, RP Gullapalli. AAPM/RSNA Physics Tutorial for Residents. MR
Artifacts, Safety, and Quality Control. RadioGraphics 26:275-297, 2006.
MDACC MR Research
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MR Artifacts - E.F.

Common MR Artifacts and

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

MDACC MR Research Image compliments of Carl Keener, PhD

ωx = γ (Bo+ x Gx) <== one-to-one correspondence between frequency and position

MDACC MR Research Image compliments of Carl Keener, PhD

Spin Echo Imaging Sequence

Reconstructing the Image

– image has been phase-encoded – image has been frequency-

MDACC MR Research Image compliments of Carl Keener, PhD

MDACC MR Research Image compliments of Carl Keener, PhD

All 256x256 Central 64x64 Central 192x192 Outer 64x64

No Spike Spike at (135, 135) Spike at (135, 185)

SNR, Acquisition Time, and Resolution

Tscan = TR Nave Nφ Í Acquisition time (ideal multislice imaging)

δυ = FOVυ / Nυ Í Resolution in the frequency-encoding direction

δφ = FOVφ / Nφ Í Resolution in in the phase-encoding direction

• Stationary objects with applied gradient => linear phase

Spin Echo Imaging Sequence

Ref: GE Signa Applications Guide, Vol 3 MDACC MR Research

Ref: GE Signa Applications Guide, Vol 3

90o Sat 90o-180o

(A) No Sat Pulse

Ref: GE Signa Applications Guide, Vol 1

Uncontrolled Coughing Swallowing

Aliasing or “Wrap-Around” Artifacts

f aliased = f true − 2 f Nyquist

Aliasing or “Wrap-Around” Artifacts

Left: No correction Right: “No Phase Wrap”

Metal Object Artifacts

Metallic objects can cause distortions of the static and gradient

Typical effects are “signal voids” and/or geometric distortions.

Metal Object Artifacts

Metal Object Artifacts

Effect of Metal on FatSat Effect of Small Letter “c”

Metal Object Artifacts

BW=125 kHz BW=50kHz

Metal Object Artifacts

Out of Slice Contamination Artifact

Due to anatomy within the

Chemical Shift Artifacts

• Dominant acquisition parameters that affect shift: FOV and

Chemical Shift Artifacts

The magnitude of the in-plane chemical shift-induced

– Inversely proportional to the amplitude of the frequency-

– Inversely proportional to the sampling bandwidth, since

Chemical Shift Artifact

First Echo: TE/TR=30/3000ms Second Echo: TE/TR=100/3000ms

Chemical Shift Artifact

Localizer, 48 cm FOV SSFSE, 32 cm FOV

Chemical Shift Artifacts

– Use the smallest possible FOV (tradeoff: SNR)

– Increase the receiver bandwidth (tradeoff: SNR)

– Use fat suppression techniques to eliminate signal from fat (not

Bullets 1-3 are also applicable to minimize susceptibility

• Occur at high contrast edges.

Actual intensity profile Measured intensity profile

256x128 matrix 256x256 matrix