title: Correlation between morphological expansion and impairment of intra- and prelesionary motility in inflammatory small bowel lesions in patients with Crohn's disease - preliminary data.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study is to investigate if alterations of intra- and prelesionary motility in inflamed small-bowel segments correlate with length, wall-thickness and prelesionary dilatation of inflammatory small bowel lesions in patients suffering from Crohn's disease assessed with MRI.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective IRB approved study included 25 patients (12 males, 18-77y) with inflammatory lesions examined using (MRE) magnetic resonance imaging enterography. Cine MRE was performed using a coronal 2D steady-state free precession sequence (TR 2.9, TE 1.25) on a 1.5T MRI scanner. Small bowel motility was examined using a dedicated MR-motility assessment software (Motasso, Vers. 1.0, Sohard AG, Bern, Switzerland). Motility patterns (contraction frequency, relative occlusion rate and mean diameter) were assessed in correlation to wall thickness, length and prelesionary dilatation of the lesions. Statistical analysis was performed by calculation of the Pearson's-Correlation coefficient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The length of the inflammatory segments, the wall thickening and prelesionary dilatation did not correlate with the frequency of the contractions (r=0.17, p=0.477; r=0.316, p=0.123; r=0.161, p=0.441) or the impairment of luminal occlusion (r=0.274, p=0.184; r=0.199, p=.0339; r=0.015, p=0.945) and only the prelesionary dilatation (r=0.410, p=0.042) correlated to the mean luminal diameter of the segment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The degree of motility impairment within inflammatory small bowel lesions does not significantly correlate with the extent of the lesion but with the motility measured in prelesionary, non-affected segments, suggesting an interdependent functional aspect of inflammation even in morphologically non-affected small bowel segments.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Zürich, Department of Radiology, Rämistrasse 100, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bickelhaupt
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Zürich, Department of Radiology, Rämistrasse 100, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Moritz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wurnig
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Zürich, Department of Radiology, Rämistrasse 100, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boss
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Zürich, Department of Radiology, Rämistrasse 100, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland; Hirslanden Clinic, Radiology, Witellikerstrasse 40, 8032 Zürich, Switzerland. Electronic address: Michael.Patak@patak.ch.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Patak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D006801:Humans; D007079:Ileitis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007082:Ileum / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: Crohn's disease; Inflammatory bowel diseases; MRI; Motility analysis; Small bowel motility