MRI for the evaluation of gastric physiology.
BACKGROUND
Evaluation of gastric physiology (gastric emptying and motility) is important for the diagnosis of disturbances such as functional dyspepsia. MRI is a non-invasive technique that allows simultaneous registration of gastric emptying and motility.


OBJECTIVE
To provide an overview of the literature of studies that used MRI as a tool for evaluation of gastric function in both research and clinical settings.


METHODS
A MEDLINE search was performed (1990-2008) directed at the radiology and gastroenterology literature on gastric physiology. Key words that were used included: functional tests, gastric emptying, gastric motility, gastric physiology and MRI. Twenty-five articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
Over the last decade, MRI has developed as a reliable, non-invasive method for detailed evaluation of gastric emptying and motility without the disadvantages of ionizing radiation and without the use of intragastric catheters that influence gastric physiology.
de Zwart
Ingrid M
IM
Department of Radiology, C2-S Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, NL-2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands. i.m.de_zwart@lumc.nl
de Roos
Albert
A
D003287:Contrast Media; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000175:diagnosis; D005682:Gadolinium; D005746:Gastric Emptying; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D013270:Stomach / Q000502:physiology
D003287:Contrast Media; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C050823:gadolinium 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N'',N'''-tetraacetate; D005682:Gadolinium