Parallel imaging artifacts in body magnetic resonance imaging.
OBJECTIVE
To familiarize the reader with the fundamental concepts of partial parallel imaging (PPI); to review the technical aspects of PPI including calibration scan, coil geometry, and field of view (FOV); and to illustrate artifacts related to parallel imaging and describe solutions to minimize their negative impact.


RESULTS
PPI has led to a significant advance in body magnetic resonance imaging by reducing the time required to generate an image without loss of spatial resolution. Although PPI can improve image quality, it is not free of artifacts, which can result in significant image degradation. Knowledge of these artifacts and how to minimize their effect is important to optimize the use of parallel imaging for specific body magnetic resonance imaging applications.


CONCLUSIONS
The reader will be introduced to the fundamental principles of PPI. Common imaging characteristics of PPI artifacts will be displayed with an emphasis on those seen with image-based methods, the principles behind their generation presented, and measures to minimize their negative impact will be proposed.
Department of Medical Imaging, CHUQ-Hôtel-Dieu de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada. noel_patricia@hotmail.com
Patricia
P
Noël
Roland
R
Bammer
Caroline
C
Reinhold
Masoom A
MA
Haider
D000465:Algorithms; D016477:Artifacts; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D051598:Whole Body Imaging / Q000379:methods*