Metallic Artifact Reduction of Multiacquisition with Variable Resonance Image Combination Selective-Short Tau Inversion Recovery for Postoperative Cervical Spine with Artificial Disk Replacement: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to evaluate multiacquisition with variable resonance image combination selective short tau inversion recovery (MAVRIC SL STIR) for metallic artifact reduction in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of postoperative cervical spine with artificial disk replacement. Methods A porcine cervical spine with artificial disk replacement was subject to 3 T MRI with variable fat-suppressed fluid-sensitive sequences. Five volunteers underwent MRI with MAVRIC SL STIR and STIR. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed for metallic artifact reduction. Results MAVRIC SL STIR showed the least signal void areas in the tissue phantom and volunteer study. In the tissue phantom study, MAVRIC SL STIR showed the best visualization of anatomic structure, least distortion, and signal pile-up. However, it ranked last for the homogeneity of fat suppression among sequences. In the volunteer study, MAVRIC SL STIR showed better visualization of anatomic structure and lesser distortion, but showed worse image quality of the spinal cord than STIR in the sagittal plane (P < 0.05). Conclusions MAVRIC SL STIR might be useful for visualization of anatomy by reduction of signal void areas and distortion in the operated site but should be used as a complement to STIR for evaluation of the spinal cord signal change.