However, more clinical evidence is needed to determine which method or combination of methods achieves the best accuracy for assessment of fibrosis, fat, and iron deposition. In phase and opposed phase MR imaging allows reliable detection of focal steatosis hepatis owing to the chemical shift cancellation artifact. Areas of steatosis demonstrate signal loss on opposed phase images. In addition, T2* effects allow reliable detection of iron storage diseases related susceptibility artifacts. Areas of iron storage demonstrate pronounced signal loss on the image with the longer echo time. MR spectroscopy has potential tool utility for assessment of metabolic function, particularly with respect to liver fat quantification. It also may provide useful information about other aspects of diffuse liver disease (eg, inflammation and fibrosis). However, in vivo application of MR spectroscopy in the abdomen and pelvis is limited by spectral resolution, SNR, and motion. In summary, MR spectroscopy of the liver is a novel evolving technology with the potential to improve tissue characterization when used in conjunction with other conventional MR sequences.