Effect of interference of metallic objects on interpretation of T 1-weighted magnetic resonance images in the maxillofacial region

Metallic objects produce artifacts on magnetic resonance (MR) images. However, studies on typical dental materials in this area are scant. This study was conducted to describe and measure the magnitude of such artifacts. Samples of various dental materials (dental gold, amalgam, stainless steel, titanium, silver-palladium, and vitallium) were embedded in bovine muscle and then subjected to Tl-weighted MR imaging. The materials were of the typical morphology and composition encountered in routine maxillofacial practice. The MR artifacts were measured and compared with the original specimen measurements. All metallic objects were found to produce artifacts and to interfere with the interpretation of MR images. Artifacts were most pronounced in the central plane of the object. Gold produced the greatest artifact, and amalgam produced the least. Because metals commonly used in the maxillofacial region all produce artifacts on MR images, avoidance measures should be used to minimize the effect of these artifacts. c Professor and Head, Radiology Department, University of Illinois at Chicago.