Even chemicals shifting in the body can become artifacts. Fat and water in the body shift position causing artifacts. But so can the pulsations of blood or cerebrospinal fluid as they flow through the body.ĭental implants show up as dark spots. An error on the part of the technician conducting the test can create artifacts. Artifacts refer to anything that shows up on the MRI that isn't really there. One of the biggest downfalls (a pitfall) is the appearance of artifacts. MRIs also show bone bruising and tumors that aren't readily seen on X-rays or CT scans. MRIs are better than X-rays for finding subtle or difficult-to-spot bone fractures. And it provides the only real way to look at the spinal cord. One of the best advantages of MRI (a pearl) is that it does not expose the body to ionizing radiation like X-rays and CT scans do.

Multiple sclerosis plaques, loss of blood flow or blood hemorrhaging, edema (swelling), and torn spinal nerves are just a few of the other types of pathologies MRIs can reveal. Information gained from MRIs is different than what is seen on X-rays or CT scans and is sometimes 'complementary' to these others types of imaging studies. The brain, spinal cord, discs, ligaments, bones, blood vessles, nerves, muscles, and joints can all be evaluated with this tool. Q: The radiology report I have on my spinal MRI says a few things about 'artifacts.' What are those exactly?Ī: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one of the best ways to take a look inside the spine and see what's going on without actually opening the body.

Muscle artifact meaning