In MR imaging, what could lead to artifacts related to the patient?

Artifacts in MR imaging can be caused by various patient-related factors, including improper positioning, patient movement, and patient size.

Improper positioning refers to the way a patient is positioned in the MRI scanner. If they are not aligned correctly or are in an awkward position, this can lead to artifacts in the images due to an uneven field of view or incorrect magnetic field alignment.

Patient movement is another significant factor that can lead to artifacts. Even small movements can distort the images, as MRI relies on capturing precise data from the body to create detailed images. If a patient moves during the scan, the resulting images may be blurred or misregistered, thus compromising the quality of the imaging.

Patient size can also contribute to artifacts. Different body sizes may lead to challenges in achieving a uniform signal, especially if the patient is larger than the receiver coils designed for the scan. This can result in partial volume averaging where multiple tissues contribute to a single pixel, leading to indistinct or misleading results.

Combining all these factors, it is clear that any or all of them can individually cause artifacts during MR imaging. Therefore, recognizing that each of these aspects can contribute to image quality reinforces the importance of addressing them during the imaging process.