To describe the cause and appearance of the chemical shift phenomenon in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

To review the basic physical concepts governing the chemical shift phenomenon.

To discuss the clinical manifestation of the chemical shift phenomenon: spatial misregistration, phase cancellation, and mixexcitation.

To describe and demonstrate how the chemical shift effect can be utilized for tissue characterization in neurologic and body MR imaging as well as aid on the delineation of visceral structures.

Diagnostic Pitfalls and Artifacts in Abdominal MR Imaging: A Review

To review common artifacts, and methods of the reduction, when performing MRI of the abdomen.

To discuss clinical consequences of MR artifacts, and how then aid or hinder lesion characterization in the abdomen.

To discuss the advantages and limitations of various MR pulse sequences when characterizing on abdominal lesion.

To discuss the utility of contrast materials in MR abdominal imaging.

To review specific artifacts, pulse sequences, imaging parameters, and contrast usage seen when imaging specific abdominal organs such as the liver, spleen, pancreas, adrenal glands, and kidneys.