What happens to diagnostic image quality as a result of magnetic susceptibility effects?

Magnetic susceptibility effects result from the interaction between the magnetic field and materials with different magnetic properties. In diagnostic imaging, specifically MRI, this can lead to variations in the field leading to both enhancement and degradation of image quality.

In some cases, certain materials or tissues may enhance contrast, thereby improving image quality by making specific structures more distinguishable. For instance, when imaging areas with a high degree of susceptibility differences, such as around metal implants, the variations in signal can create a pronounced effect that aids in interpretation.

Conversely, these same magnetic susceptibility differences can lead to reduced image quality through distortions or signal loss. This is especially relevant in regions where magnetic field inhomogeneities occur, potentially leading to artifacts or uneven signal intensity in the images, which can obscure diagnostic information.

Thus, magnetic susceptibility effects can indeed both degrade and improve image quality, depending on the context and specific circumstances of the imaging scenario.