Abstract: A system for generating MR images for segmentation and/or use in correcting attenuation in subsequent images using other modalities (e.g., PET, SPECT, etc.) is described. A surrogate soft tissue device is provided and positioned on the patient near the artifact source to provide a surrogate soft tissue boundary that can be imaged and interpreted during segmentation to mitigate the deleterious effects of a local susceptibility artifact in the MR image.

Abstract: When generating MR images for segmentation and/or use in correcting attenuation in subsequent images using other modalities (e.g., PET, SPECT, etc.), a surrogate soft tissue device is provided and positioned on the patient near the artifact source to provide a surrogate soft tissue boundary that can be imaged and interpreted during segmentation to mitigate the deleterious effects of a local susceptibility artifact in the MR image. More specifically, a metal implant may generate a signal void in MRI which may confound the segmentation of the lung in the MR image in such a manner that the lung and the air outside of the patient is falsely identified as one connected region. By providing the surrogate soft tissue device and positioning it in such a manner that its soft tissue boundary separates the lung and the outside air despite the signal void, the segmentation can be improved, thereby improving the attenuation correction which is based on the segmentation result.