A Multi-Spectral Three-Dimensional Acquisition Technique for Imaging Near Metal Implants

Kevin M. Koch¹, John E. Lorbiecki¹, R Scott Hinks¹, Kevin F. King¹

Metallic implants used in bone and joint arthroplasty induce severe spatial perturbations to the B0 magnetic field used for high-field clinical magnetic resonance. These perturbations distort slice-selection and frequency encoding processes applied in conventional two-dimensional techniques and hinder the diagnosis of complications from arthroplasty. Here, a method is presented whereby multiple three-dimensional fast-spin-echo images are collected at offset RF transmission and reception frequencies. It is demonstrated that this technique can be used to generate a composite image that is devoid of slice-plane distortion and possesses greatly reduced distortions in the readout direction, even in the immediate vicinity of metallic implants.