Simultaneous Measurement of Gastric Emptying of a Soup Test Meal Using MRI and Gamma Scintigraphy

Abstract

Measurement of gastric emptying is of clinical value for a range of conditions. Gamma scintigraphy (GS) has an established role, but the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has recently increased. Previous comparison studies between MRI and GS showed good correlation, but were performed on separate study days. In this study, the modalities were alternated rapidly allowing direct comparison with no intra-individual variability confounds. Twelve healthy participants consumed 400 g of Technetium-99m (99mTc)-labelled soup test meal (204 kcal) and were imaged at intervals for 150 min, alternating between MRI and GS. The time to empty half of the stomach contents (T1/2) and retention rate (RR) were calculated and data correlated. The average T1/2 was similar for MRI (44 ± 6 min) and GS (35 ± 4 min) with a moderate but significant difference between the two modalities (p < 0.004). The individual T1/2 values were measured, and MRI and GS showed a good positive correlation (r = 0.95, p < 0.0001), as well as all the RRs at each time point up to 120 min. Gastric emptying was measured for the first time by MRI and GS on the same day. This may help with translating the use of this simple meal, known to elicit reliable, physiological, and pathological gastrointestinal motor, peptide, and appetite responses.

Feasibility Study of a New Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mini-capsule Device to Measure Whole Gut Transit Time in Paediatric Constipation

“…The effective exposure dose provided can vary considerably depending on isotopes and techniques. Radiolabelled meals in gamma scintigraphy can provide between 0.1 mSv ( 16 , 17 ) up to 1 to 4 mSv ( 18 ) and x-ray can provide between 0.03 and 0.11 mSv ( 19 ). Scintigraphy uses radiolabelled tracers to determine transit time.…”

Gastric accumulation of enteral nutrition reduces pressure changes induced by phasic contractility in an isovolumetric intragastric balloon

“…MRI should be considered the reference technique in this comparison as it is the most direct readout of gastric retention, the inverse of gastric emptying. [38][39][40][41] Breath tests are indirect semi-quantitative measures of gastric emptying, which rely on multiple assumptions. 28,38,42 MRI is costly, time consuming and in high demand for clinical and research use.…”

“…However, both techniques were not 100% in agreement (rho = 0.74). MRI should be considered the reference technique in this comparison as it is the most direct readout of gastric retention, the inverse of gastric emptying 38‐41 . Breath tests are indirect semi‐quantitative measures of gastric emptying, which rely on multiple assumptions 28,38,42 .…”

Measurement of fasted state gastric antral motility before and after a standard bioavailability and bioequivalence 240 mL drink of water: Validation of MRI method against concomitant perfused manometry in healthy participants

“…It has also been shown that MRI can assess gastric motion and quantify the effects of metoclopramide and scopolamine on gastric motility [ 23 ]. Furthermore, the use of MRI to assess gastric motility and emptying has been validated against gamma scintigraphy [ 25 – 28 ].…”