Artifacts, variants, and factors degrading image quality in pediatric magnetic resonance imaging.

The experience from 123 pediatric MRI examinations disclosed several different types of artifacts and age-related variants that could have caused pitfalls in MRI interpretation. Artifacts were caused by metallic objects, patient touching the RF coil, and patient motion. The potential pitfalls are caused by the MRI variant appearances of anatomical structures specific to the growing body. Recommendations concerning preparation and immobilization of children prior to and during MRI examinations to minimize artifacts are given.