title: Software-supported evaluation of gastric motility in MRI: a feasibility study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of dedicated motility assessment software for quantitative evaluation of basic gastric motility and to validate it using manual measurements.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients (5 males/5 females, mean 41 years) out of a previous series of small bowel MR-enterography examinations with well visible stomachs were included in this Institutional Reviews Board approved, retrospective study. MRI (1.5-T, Siemens Sonata) was performed after standardised oral preparation (3% aqueous mannitol over 1 h). Coronal 2DtrueFISP (TR 283.8/TE 1.89/FOV400/10 mm slice) motility acquisitions covering the entire abdomen were performed in apnoea. For each patient, image analysis for assessment of gastric motility was performed both manually and using the dedicated software either the proximal (n = 5) or in the distal (n = 5) gastric corpus. The main quantitative endpoints (amplitude, frequency) describing gastric motility were compared using (paired) Student's t-Test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All motility curves qualitatively matched each other (10/10). No significant differences (P > 0.05) were found for amplitudes (mean: 18.17 mm manual; 17.78 mm software), contraction frequencies (5.1/min; 4.7/min) and mean lumen diameters (34.12 mm; 33.13 mm), respectively. Mean duration for a single measurement was significantly (P < 0.001) lower with the software (6.40 min manual technique; 1.40 min software assisted).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The software proves to be feasible for fast and accurate measurement of basic gastric motility parameters providing comparable data in comparison to manual assessment methods. It might help to reduce the time needed for assessment of relevant characteristics of gastric motility.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bickelhaupt
authors.forename: Johannes M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Froehlich
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cattin
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raible
authors.forename: Hanspeter
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bouquet
authors.forename: Urs
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bill
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Patak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012984:Software; D012985:Software Design; D055815:Young Adult