SOLID LOCALIZATION MARKER FOR MR-IMAGING

A solid, stable material that can be easily cut into unique, identifia ble shapes was compared with other localization markers used in magnet ic resonance imaging to determine relaxation characteristics and chemi cal shift. The solid marker and the conventional oil-based markers cau sed substantial chemical shift artifacts and so should never be used w hen high levels of spatial accuracy are necessary, such as in stereota xy. Although it had the lowest T2 of all the substances tested, the so lid marker was useful in identifying structures when different coils, sequences, and fields of view were used.