How can Truncation/Gibbs artifacts be reduced?

Truncation or Gibbs artifacts typically arise during image reconstruction in MRI when there is an insufficient number of data points in the Fourier domain. These artifacts manifest as ringing or oscillation near the edges of structures in the image. The most effective way to reduce these artifacts is by increasing the phase or frequency matrix.

Increasing the phase or frequency matrix increases the number of sampling points across the acquired frequency and phase encodings. This additional sampling allows for more accurate representation of the Fourier Transform of the image, which helps to capture the rapid changes in signal often responsible for these artifacts. Essentially, a higher matrix size allows for more detail in the image, reducing the abrupt transitions that cause Gibbs phenomenon.

In contrast, options that suggest resizing pixels, lowering signal intensity, or decreasing acquisition time may not effectively address the underlying cause of truncation artifacts. Increasing pixel size could lead to a loss of resolution and detail, while using a lower signal intensity might contribute to a noisier image without improving artifact reduction. Decreasing the acquisition time could decrease the amount of data collected, which could exacerbate the truncation effect rather than mitigate it. Therefore, adjusting the phase or frequency matrix is the most effective strategy for reducing Gibbs artifacts.