Errors of fourier chemical-shift imaging and their corrections

From a finite and discrete Fourier transform point of view, we discuss the sources of localization errors in Fourier chemical-shift imaging, and demonstrate them explicitly by computer simulations for simple cases. Errors arise from intravoxel dephasing and the intravoxel asymmetry. The spectral leakage due to intravoxel dephasing is roughly 6–8% from one voxel to one of its nearest neighbors. Neighbors further away are influenced less significantly. The loss of localization due to intravoxel asymmetry effect is also severe. Fortunately, these errors can be corrected under certain conditions. The method for correcting the errors by postprocessing the data is described.