title: Gradient-enhanced volume rendering: an image processing strategy to facilitate whole small bowel imaging with MRI.
abstract: MRI of the small bowel with positive contrast from orally administered contrast agent is a promising non-invasive imaging method. The aim of our study was to introduce small bowel MRI in a display format that clinicians are accustomed to and that maximizes the amount of information visualized on a single image. Twelve healthy volunteers, median age 32 years (range 18-49 years) participated in the study. A mixture of 20 ml Gd-DOTA (Dotarem), 0.8 g/kg body weight psyllium fibre (Metamucil) and 1.2 l water were sequentially administered over a period of 4 h. Imaging was performed on a 1.5 T unit (Philips Gyroscan, Intera). Fat-saturated, 3D, gradient echo imaging was performed while the patient was in apnea (30 s). Bowel motion was reduced with 40 mg intravenously administered scopolamine (Buscopan). A 3D, gradient-enhanced, volume rendering technique was applied to the 3D data sets. Standard projections [left anterior oblique (LAO), right anterior oblique (RAO), supine and prone] resembling conventional enteroclysis were successfully generated within fewer than 10 min processing time. Reconstructions were reproducible and provided an entire overview of the small bowel. In addition thin-slab volume rendering allowed an overlap-free display of individual structures. Positive contrast from orally administered contrast agent, combined with a gradient enhanced volume rendering method, allows the reconstruction of the small bowel in a pattern resembling conventional double-contrast enteroclysis. Segmental display without overlay is possible.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic Radiology, Cantonal Hospital, Winterthur, Switzerland. wyss@biomed.ee.ethz.ch
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wyss
authors.forename: Johannes M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Froehlich
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Patak
authors.forename: Christoph F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Juli
authors.forename: Markus B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Scheidegger
authors.forename: Christoph L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Zollikofer
authors.forename: Klaus U
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Wentz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; C072417:gadoterate meglumine