[Visualization and quantification of large bowel motility with functional cine-MRI].
OBJECTIVE
To develop and evaluate a method to visualize and quantify large bowel motility using functional cine MRI.


METHODS
Fifteen healthy individuals (8 males, 7 females, 20 to 45 years old) with no history or present symptoms of bowel disorders were enrolled in a functional cine MRI examination at 6 a. m. after a starving phase for at least eight hours before and after oral administration of Senna tea (mild stimulating purgative). Two consecutive sets of repeated measurements of the entire abdomen were performed using a 1.5 T MRI system with coronal T2-weighted HASTE sequences anatomically adjusted to the course of the large bowel. A navigator technique was used for respiratory gating at the level of the right dorsal diaphragm. The changes in diameter (given in cm) were measured at 5 different locations of the ascending (AC), transverse (TC) and descending colon (DC), and assessed as parameters for the bowel motility.


RESULTS
The mean values as a statistical measure for large bowel relaxation were determined. Before ingestion of Senna tea, the mean diameter measured 3.41 cm (ascending colon), 3 cm (transverse colon) and 2.67 cm (descending colon). After the ingestion of Senna tea, the mean diameter increased to 3.69 cm (ascending colon) to 3.4 cm (transverse colon) and to 2.9 cm (descending colon). A statistically significant difference was demonstrated with the Wilcoxon test (level of confidence 0.05). For the determination of dynamic increase, the changes of the statistical scatter amplitude to the mean value were expressed as percentage before and after the ingestion of Senna tea. Thereby, an increase in variation and dynamic range was detected for the AC (112.9 %) and DC (100 %), but a decrease in the dynamics for the TC (69 %).


CONCLUSIONS
A non-invasive method for the assessment of bowel motility was developed for the first time. The use of functional cine MRI utilizing a prokinetic stimulus allowed visualisation and quantification of large bowel motility. Further studies have to determine whether this technique is clinically relevant.
Buhmann
S
S
Institut für Klinische Radiologie, Klinikum der Universität München. Sonja.Buhmann@med.uni-muenchen.de
Kirchhoff
C
C
Wielage
C
C
Fischer
T
T
Mussack
T
T
Reiser
M
M
Lienemann
A
A
D000328:Adult; D002400:Cathartics / Q000494:pharmacology; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012676:Senna Extract / Q000494:pharmacology
D002400:Cathartics; D012676:Senna Extract