susceptibility artifact
MRI image distortion caused by magnetic field inhomogeneity at interfaces between tissues with different magnetic properties.
Full Definition
Susceptibility artifacts are common MRI distortions that occur at boundaries between tissues or materials with different magnetic susceptibilities, such as air-tissue or bone-tissue interfaces. These artifacts manifest as signal dropout, geometric distortion, or signal pile-up, particularly affecting echo-planar imaging sequences used in functional MRI and diffusion imaging. Brain regions most susceptible to these artifacts include the orbitofrontal cortex, anterior temporal lobes, and areas near the skull base. Understanding and minimizing susceptibility artifacts is essential for accurate image interpretation and quantitative analysis in neuroimaging studies.
Usage
Usage note: Distinct from other artifact types; specify the underlying cause when possible.
In Context
- "Susceptibility artifact in the orbitofrontal region limits the interpretability of functional activation data in this area." — Research limitation discussion
- "The radiologist noted susceptibility artifact near the surgical clips, which may obscure subtle pathological changes." — Clinical imaging report