title: Use of continuously MR tagged imaging for automated motion assessment in the abdomen: a feasibility study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the feasibility of measuring motion in the abdomen using a continuously tagged magnetic resonance imaging sequence.
  
  
  METHODS
  To assess (nonperiodic) motion in the abdomen, a nontriggered, continuously tagged transient field echo (TFE) sequence was implemented that acquires one complete 3D dataset per prepulse after a fixed delay. In postprocessing, a frequency analysis approach was developed for compact reviewing of the data and noise suppression. For proof of principle, a simulation was made and one free-breathing dynamic in vivo scan was acquired in a healthy volunteer. During the dynamic scan the volunteer received glucagon intravenously.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The simulation showed that this frequency analysis enables the extraction of motion at low signal-to-noise ratio levels. Motion information was successfully gathered from the in vivo scan. The decline in bowel motion caused by the administration of glucagon could be quantitatively measured using the continuously tagged sequence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Continuously tagged imaging in the abdomen for the purpose of automated gathering of motion information is feasible and could aid the study of bowel motion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. a.m.sprengers@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: Andre M J
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sprengers
authors.forename: Marije P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: van der Paardt
authors.forename: Frank M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Zijta
authors.forename: Matthan W A
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Caan
authors.forename: Rolf M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lamerichs
authors.forename: Aart J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Nederveen
authors.forename: Jaap
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stoker
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013382:Subtraction Technique