HIGH-DENSITY ORAL BARIUM-SULFATE IN ABDOMINAL MRI - EFFICACY AND TOLERANCE IN A CLINICAL SETTING

Bowel and anatomic delineation were evaluated on abdominal magnetic re sonance imaging scans in patients who received high-density barium sul fate orally (n = 16, BA+ group) or underwent magnetic resonance imagin g without oral contrast (n = 14, BA- group), On T-1-weighted images, t he BA+ group had better delineation of gastric fundus, duodenum, jejun um, and ileum (p < .005) and pancreatic head (p < .02) than did the BA - group, On T-2-weighted images, gastric fundus (p < .005), jejunum (p < .02), and ileum (p < .02) were better delineated in the BA+ group t han in the BA- group, Analysis of patients' prior CT scans, used to co ntrol for selection bias, showed no differences in anatomic or bowel d elineation between BA+ and BA- groups that would account for the diffe rences seen in magnetic resonance imaging, One-fourth of patients coul d tolerate only 150 cc of contrast, High-density oral barium sulfate i s recommended in patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging for pa ncreatic or gastrointestinal tract disease, although patient intoleran ce may limit its widespread use in abdominal magnetic resonance imagin g, (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.