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Image artifacts from MR-based attenuation correction in clinical, whole-body PET/MRI

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Abstract

Purpose

Integrated whole-body PET/MRI tomographs have become available. PET/MR imaging has the potential to supplement, or even replace combined PET/CT imaging in selected clinical indications. However, this is true only if methodological pitfalls and image artifacts arising from novel MR-based attenuation correction (MR-AC) are fully understood.

Results

Here we present PET/MR image artifacts following routine MR-AC, as most frequently observed in clinical operations of an integrated whole-body PET/MRI system.

Conclusion

A clinical adoption of integrated PET/MRI should entail the joint image display and interpretation of MR data, MR-based attenuation maps and uncorrected plus attenuation-corrected PET images in order to recognize potential pitfalls from MR-AC and to ensure clinically accurate image interpretation.

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Correspondence to Sune H. Keller.

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Keller, S.H., Holm, S., Hansen, A.E. et al. Image artifacts from MR-based attenuation correction in clinical, whole-body PET/MRI. Magn Reson Mater Phy 26, 173–181 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-012-0345-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-012-0345-4

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