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The usefulness of dynamically balanced FFE WATS-MR imaging with kinematic display for studying pediatric
Yoshio Watanabe1, Ryoichi Ikegami, Akinori Osuka
1Pediatric Surgery, Aichi Children's Health and Medical Center, 1-2 Osakada, Morioka-cho, Obu-city, Aichi, 474-0031, Japan. yoshio_watanabe@mx.achmc.pref.aichi.jp
Insights
Kinematic water selective excitation MR imaging (WATS-MR cine) effectively visualizes pediatric gastrointestinal water movement. This radiation-free method aids in detecting abnormalities in children over six years old.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Medical Imaging
- Radiology
Background:
- Gastrointestinal (GI) movement abnormalities cause various pediatric symptoms.
- Current imaging methods like fluoroscopy, manometry, and ultrasonography have limitations, including radiation exposure and inability to visualize the entire GI tract.
- There is a need for non-invasive, comprehensive imaging techniques for pediatric GI motility assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of kinematic water selective excitation MR imaging (WATS-MR cine) for visualizing gastrointestinal movement in children.
- To assess if WATS-MR cine can depict the entire gastrointestinal tract without radiation.
- To determine the effectiveness of WATS-MR cine in identifying pediatric GI motility abnormalities.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-six pediatric patients (ages 3-17) underwent dynamically balanced first field echo (FFE) imaging with water selective excitation.
- WATS-MR cine sequences were acquired preprandial, immediately postprandial, and 30-min postprandial, each for 5 minutes.
- Images were displayed in a cine mode at 10x normal speed for motion evaluation.
Main Results:
- WATS-MR cine successfully visualized the movement of the stomach, small intestine, and colon in a single field of view.
- The technique allowed for the evaluation of both preprandial and postprandial gastrointestinal water movement.
- Characteristic images reflecting GI water movement abnormalities were observed in pediatric patients using the 10x speed cine mode.
Conclusions:
- WATS-MR cine is a valuable, radiation-free tool for visualizing pediatric gastrointestinal water movement.
- The technique is particularly useful for children over 6 years of age who can cooperate without sedation.
- WATS-MR cine demonstrates potential for diagnosing gastrointestinal motility disorders in the pediatric population.
Abstract:
Abnormalities in gastrointestinal movement underlie various symptoms in the pediatric population. Although fluoroscopic, manometry, and ultrasonography remain important tools for studying gastrointestinal movement, none can depict the whole gastro-intestine full-size without radiation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether kinematic water selective excitation MR imaging (WATS-MR cine) could reveal gastrointestinal movement in childhood. Thirty-six patients (age: 3 to 17 years; 15 male and 22 female) underwent dynamically balanced first field echo (FFE) imaging with a thick slice of water selective excitation without breath hold. The WATS-MR cine was taken at three different times (preprandial, immediately postprandial, and 30-min postprandial) for sequential 5 min. Images were displayed in a cine mode at 10 times the normal speed, and the motion of water in each organ was evaluated. Movement of the stomach, small intestine, and colon could be observed together in a field. This study made it possible to evaluate both preprandial and postprandial gastrointestinal water movement. WATS-MR cine is useful for visualizing gastrointestinal water movement in accessible children older than 6 years without sedation. A cine mode at 10 times the normal speed provided characteristic images reflecting gastrointestinal water movement abnormalities in pediatric patients.
