Purpose:To prove the feasibility of air-distended magnetic resonance colonography (MRC) and compare it with waterbased distention.
Materials and Methods:In five volunteers, the colon was imaged twice: once after distending the colon with air and a second time after distending the colon with water. A total of 50 patients, who had been referred to colonoscopy for a suspected colorectal pathology were randomized into water-distention (N ϭ 25) and air-distention (N ϭ 25) groups. A contrast-enhanced T1-weighted three-dimensional volume interpolated breath-hold (VIBE) sequence was collected. Comparative analysis was based on qualitative ratings of image quality and bowel distention, as well as contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) measurements for the colonic wall with respect to the colonic lumen. In addition, patient acceptance was evaluated.Results: Inflammatory changes and colorectal masses were correctly identified on MRC in eight patients each. One 4-mm polyp identified at colonoscopy was missed on waterdistended MRC. There were no false positive findings. No significant differences were found between air-and waterdistention regarding discomfort levels and image quality. The presence of air in the colonic lumen was not associated with susceptibility artifacts. CNR of the contrast-enhanced colonic wall, as well as bowel distention, were superior on air-distended three-dimensional data sets.
Conclusion:MRC can be performed using either water or air for colonic distention. Both techniques permit assessment of the colonic wall and identification of colorectal masses. While discomfort levels are similar for both agents, MRC with air provides higher CNR and better colonic distention. MAGNETIC RESONANCE (MR) colonography (MRC) has been shown to be an appropriate diagnostic tool for the detection of pathologies, including colorectal masses, diverticula, and inflammatory disease (1-4). Reliable assessment of the colon by means of MR imaging is predicated upon the fulfillment of two requirements: sufficient distention of the colonic lumen and sufficient contrast between the colonic lumen and pathologies arising from the colonic wall. Hence, the cleansed colon is filled either with liquid, such as tap water, with or without the addition of paramagnetic contrast (2,5,6), or gaseous agents, such as room air, CO 2 , and hyperpolarized helium (7-9). While initial experience was based on techniques rendering the colonic lumen bright, dark lumen MRC has recently been found to be advantageous (1,3).The fear of compromised image quality due to susceptibility effects at air/tissue interfaces has long favored the use of water or water-based solutions for colonic distention in MRC (6,10). With the availability of high performance gradients permitting data acquisition with very short echo times, the potential of relevant susceptibility effects is reduced. Accordingly, interest in the use of gaseous agents has grown. They avoid the risk of spillage and have been suggested to be associated with less discomfort compared to fluid (7,8).The purpos...