Artifacts related to flow are common and can be a
diagnostic pitfall for the interpreting neuroradiologist, if it is not
recognized accurately. It is critical for the interpreting neuroradiologist to have a fundamental understanding of the physics that underlie image formation and the types of artifacts that emerge from magnetic resonance imaging and angiography. We present a pictorial essay of commonly encountered
flow-related artifacts and pitfalls in magnetic resonance imaging and angiography in neuroradiology and
discuss the physics behind the formation of the artifact as well as how to minimize the artifact. Knowledge of these artifacts and pitfalls is essential to arrive at accurate diagnoses.
