title: Assessment of small bowel motility function with cine-MRI using balanced steady-state free precession sequence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the use of cine-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a steady-state free precession sequence to monitor and assess small bowel motility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sequential MRI, using a balanced steady-state free precession sequence, was performed in eight healthy male volunteers at 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes after oral administration of 1500 mL of nonabsorbable fluid to monitor small bowel contractions. Using the cine-mode display, small bowel contractions were reviewed and the luminal diameter was measured on each image to obtain frequency and amplitude of bowel contractions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The oral preparation was well tolerated without major complications. Cine-MRI provided high temporal, spatial, and contrast resolution for monitoring bowel contractions. Mean values with standard deviations of frequency and amplitude of bowel contractions were 6.0 ± 2.98/min and 10.4 ± 4.53 mm, respectively, and were 5.1 ± 3.38/min and 9.59 ± 5.57 mm at the jejunal loops and 6.9 ± 2.22/min and 11.2 ± 3.06 mm at the ileal loops. With the passage of luminal fluid, frequency of bowel contractions decreased and the bowels tended to pause their contractions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cine-MRI provides sufficient dynamic images to observe small bowel contractions. Measurement of bowel caliber permits calculation of amplitude and frequency of the contractions for characterization and quantitative assessment of small bowel motility function.
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department of Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga, Japan. wakamiya@belle.shiga-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wakamiya
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Furukawa
authors.forename: Shuzo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanasaki
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murata
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000473:pathology; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors