Feasibility Study of Using Air as a Contrast Medium in MR Colonography

• Published in: Clinical radiology 2003-07, Vol.58 (7), p.555-559
• Main Authors: So, N.M.C., Lam, W.W.M., Mann, D., Leung, K.L., Metreweli, C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Air; Biological and medical sciences; colon; colon neoplasms; Colonic Polyps - diagnosis; colonography; Colonoscopy; Colorectal Neoplasms - diagnosis; contrast agents; Contrast Media; Feasibility Studies; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; magnetic resonance; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Tumors
• ISSN: 0009-9260; 1365-229X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0009-9260(03)00126-0

AIM: To evaluate the feasibility of using air as intraluminal contrast medium in magnetic resonance (MR) colonography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-two patients underwent MR colonography (MRC) using air before colonoscopy. All patients were imaged in prone and supine positions. Each colon was divided into five segments. Two radiologists reviewed the images for the degree of colonic distension, image quality and colonic lesions. The colonic lesions identified using MR were compared with those identified on colonoscopy. RESULTS: Eight men and 14 women with mean age of 55.5 years were studied. All patients completed the MR examination. One hundred and five out of 110 (95.5%) colonic segments were well distended in both prone and supine positions. Image quality was good in all cases. Colonoscopy detected 16 lesions: three ≥1 cm, one 7 mm lesion and 12 lesions ≤5 mm. All lesions 1 cm or larger were detected by MRC. CONCLUSION: MRC using air and the single-shot half-Fourier rapid acquisition with refocused echos (RARE) technique is feasible. But in this small pilot study, it had low sensitivity for the detection of polyps less than 1 cm in diameter.