Analysis of MRI Artifacts Induced by Cranial Implants in Phantom Models

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Radiology
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Cranioplasty restores skull function and aesthetics after trauma, surgery, or congenital defects.
• Postoperative MRI monitoring of cranial implants is crucial but challenged by imaging artifacts.
• Titanium and PEEK implants are common, but their impact on MRI quality requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify MRI artifacts generated by titanium and PEEK cranial implants.
• To identify optimal MRI sequences for minimizing artifacts in patients with cranial implants.
• To assess the impact of implant material, defect size, and magnetic field strength on artifact severity.

Main Methods:

• Utilized phantom skull models with simulated cranial defects of varying sizes.
• Implanted custom 3D-printed titanium and PEEK materials into defects.
• Scanned models using 1.5 T and 3 T MRI scanners, testing various sequences including Turbo Spin Echo (TSE) with fat saturation.

Main Results:

• MRI artifact severity correlated with implant material, defect size, and magnetic field strength (3 T yielded more artifacts).
• Turbo Spin Echo (TSE) sequences with fat saturation demonstrated significant artifact reduction.
• Improved lesion visualization and enhanced diagnostic accuracy were observed with optimized sequences.

Conclusions:

• Optimized MRI protocols are essential for accurate postoperative assessment of patients with cranial implants.
• The selection of Turbo Spin Echo (TSE) sequences with fat saturation effectively mitigates MRI artifacts.
• Improved imaging quality through artifact reduction leads to better diagnostic precision and patient outcomes.