title: Software-assisted quantitative analysis of small bowel motility compared to manual measurements.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To validate a newly developed software prototype that automatically analyses small bowel motility by comparing it directly with manual measurement.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five patients with clinical indication for small bowel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were retrospectively included in this institutional review board-approved study. MRI was performed using a 1.5 T system following a standard MR-enterography protocol. Small bowel motility parameters (contractions-per-minute, luminal diameter, amplitude) were measured three times each in identical segments using the manual and the semiautomatic software-assisted method. The methods were compared for agreement, repeatability, and time needed for each measurement. All parameters were compared between the methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 91 small-bowel segments were analysed. No significant intra-individual difference (p > 0.05) was found for peristaltic frequencies between the methods (mean: 4.14/min manual; 4.22/min software-assisted). Amplitudes (5.14 mm; 5.57 mm) and mean lumen diameters (17.39 mm; 14.68) differed due to systematic differences in the definition of the bowel wall. Mean duration of single measurement was significantly (p < 0.01) shorter with the software (6.25 min; 1.30 min). The scattering of repeated measurements was significantly (p < 0.05) lower using the software.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The software-assisted method accomplished highly reliable, fast and accurate measurement of small bowel motility. Measurement precision and duration differed significantly between the two methods in favour of the software-assisted technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bickelhaupt
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Froehlich
authors.affiliation: University of Applied Sciences, Biel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cattin
authors.affiliation: University of Applied Sciences, Biel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raible
authors.affiliation: SOHARD AG, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bouquet
authors.affiliation: SOHARD AG, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bill
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland; Department of Radiology, Hirslanden Clinics Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland. Electronic address: Michael@Patak.ch.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Patak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012984:Software; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology