Assessment of gastric motor function during the emptying of solid and liquid meals in humans by MRI

Gastric emptying and motility have previously been assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using liquid test meals. The aim of this study was to extend the applicability of our MRI method to the assessment of gastric emptying and motility of solid meals. Gastric emptying and motility of a liquid and a solid meal, of similar chemical properties, were studied in eight volunteers. The MRI protocol combined a multislice turbo spin-echo (TSE) sequence (volume scan, resolution: 1.5 mm) and a dynamic FFE sequence (motility scan, 1 sec/image, resolution: 3.1 mm). Gastric emptying of the liquid meal was faster than emptying of the solid meal when considering half-times of emptying. However, during the first 15 minutes after ingestion, the liquid meal emptied more slowly. This was related to reduced motility with the liquid meal. In conclusion, with our MRI method it is feasible to assess gastric emptying and motility of liquid and solid meals.