What type of imaging is affected by banding artifacts in MRI?

Banding artifacts in MRI can affect all types of imaging, including T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and diffusion imaging. These artifacts are typically related to issues with the imaging parameters or receiver hardware, resulting in a pattern of undesirable stripes or bands appearing in the images.

In T1-weighted imaging, banding artifacts can interfere with the delineation of tissues, potentially affecting diagnosis. Similarly, in T2-weighted imaging, which is often used to highlight differences in water content and pathology, banding can obscure vital details and alter the interpretation. For diffusion imaging, which is sensitive to motion and the movement of water molecules within tissues, the presence of banding artifacts could lead to misinterpretation of diffusion restrictions or characterizations of lesions.

Overall, because the mechanisms leading to these artifacts can occur across all types of MRI sequences, the correct understanding is that banding can impact each one, making the most comprehensive answer to recognize that all types of imaging are potentially affected. This understanding is crucial for medical professionals when interpreting MRI results and mitigating the effects of artifacts.