Is low field always better for imaging around passive implants?

Motivation: To investigate the performance of modernized low-field MRI relative to traditional systems for imaging near metallic devices within the clinical context. Goal(s): To evaluate whether low-field MRI can offer a significant reduction in artifacts when using routine clinical protocols. Approach: The artifact characteristics of 0.5 T, 1.5 T, and 3 T MRIs are compared in this ASTM F2119-07-based phantom study of common passive metallic devices. Results: Low-field MRI demonstrated the capability to reduce susceptibility artifacts when imaging near metal-containing medical devices. However, artifact produced by some pulse sequences diverged from the anticipated field-dependence, highlighting the sizable effects of clinical protocolling. Impact: This phantom study demonstrates that low-field MRI can image metallic devices with reduced artifact relative to 1.5/3 T systems using routine clinical protocols, highlighting opportunities for future in vivo studies involving implants and imaging in areas with magnetic susceptibility distortions.