title: Assessment of colonic transit time using MRI: a feasibility study.
abstract: The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate a new, non-invasive examination method using MRI for the quantification of the colonic transit time after oral administration of gadolinium-saline solution filled capsules. Healthy volunteers without previous or acute symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders were enrolled. After a 3-day diet for the standardization of gastrocolonic content the volunteers swallowed five Gd-DTPA/saline 0.9%-filled capsules. Seven different concentrations of Gd-DTPA/saline 0.9% solution between 1:0 and 0:1 were tested in a dilution series. Following ingestion of capsules, coronal Flash T1 and True Fisp sequences using a 1.5 Tesla system were obtained at 0 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 36 h and 60 h. Sequences were analyzed by two independent experts for locating the capsules. Overall colonic transit time was separately analyzed for both genders. Fifteen healthy volunteers (7 females, 8 males; mean age 34+/-13 years) were enrolled. The phantom study provided the best contrast in both the T1-and T2-weighted sequences defining a ratio of 1:10 for Gd-DTPA/saline 0.9% solution. The mean transit time accounted for 41+/-9 h in women and for 31+/-10 h in men. MRI is an adequate method for the assessment of colonic transit time offering the advantages of no exposure to radiation, short examination time, possible dynamic evaluation of the transit and the practicability in terms of a future adoption to clinical routine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Radiology, Campus Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377, Munich, Germany. sonja.buhmann@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buhmann
authors.forename: Chlodwig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kirchhoff
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ladurner
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mussack
authors.forename: Maximilian F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Reiser
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lienemann
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D002214:Capsules; D003106:Colon / Q000502:physiology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA