What is the most common artifact encountered in MR imaging?

Motion is indeed the most common artifact encountered in MR imaging. It occurs when there is movement of the patient or the imaging equipment during the scanning process. This can lead to blurring or misregistration of the images, which diminishes their quality and diagnostic utility. Motion artifacts can arise from voluntary actions, such as breathing or movement of limbs, as well as involuntary actions, like peristalsis or cardiac movement.

In MR imaging, the presence of motion introduces inconsistencies in the timing and phases of the acquired data, which can result in duplicate structures or streaks appearing on the final images. Because the imaging process is time-sensitive and requires the patient to remain still for the duration of the scan, even slight movements can significantly impact the clarity and accuracy of the resulting images.

Although other artifacts like noise, ghosting, and distortion can occur, they are generally less frequent than motion-related issues. Noise can affect signal clarity but does not cause structural displacements in the image. Ghosting is often a consequence of repeated signals, primarily linked with flow or respiration artifacts, while distortion pertains primarily to geometric inaccuracies in the image itself, often due to magnetic field inhomogeneities or gradient imperfection. Therefore, in practice, addressing and minimizing motion is