title: Automated small bowel motility measurements in MRI using 2D coronal slices - does the intrasegmental location matter? A pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate if small bowel motility analyses are influenced by the positioning of the 2D-cross-section measurement point within the lumen.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four small-bowel motility measurements were included in this institutional review board-approved, prospective study. Motility sequences (Dixon-dynFFE; Temporal-resolution 1s, breath-hold) of the ileocecal region were acquired using magnetic resonance imaging (3.0-Tesla; Ingenia-Philips). Motility was analyzed in three different compartments of the small bowel lumen (ventral, central, dorsal). Curve characteristics were statistically compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean luminal diameter, contraction amplitudes (P>.05) and the extent of luminal occlusion during contraction (P=.11) did not differ significantly between the compartments (ventral/central/dorsal) of the bowel lumen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quantitative motility parameters are not substantially influenced by the choice of cross sections on coronal planes as long as the segment is visible throughout the measurement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Zürich, Rämistrasse 100, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bickelhaupt
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Zürich, Rämistrasse 100, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Johannes M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Froehlich
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Zürich, Rämistrasse 100, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland; Department of Radiology, Hirslanden Clinics Zürich, Witellikerstrasse 40, 8032 Zürich, Switzerland. Electronic address: Michael.Patak@hirslanden.ch.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Patak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: Motility analyses; Small bowel MRI; Small bowel displacement; Small bowel motility; Software-assisted motility measurements