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 res onance 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 emp tying and motility of solid meals, Gastric emptying and motility of a liqui d and a solid meal, of similar chemical properties, were studied in eight v olunteers. The MRI protocol combined a multislice turbo spin-echo (TSE) seq uence (volume scan, resolution: 1.5 mm) and a dynamic FFE sequence (motilit y scan, 1 sec/image, resolution: 3.1 mm), Gastric emptying of the liquid me al was faster than emptying of the solid meal when considering half-times o f emptying. However, during the first 15 minutes after ingestion, the liqui d meal emptied mole slowly. This was related to reduced motility with the l iquid meal. In conclusion, with our MRI method it is feasible to assess gas tric emptying and motility of liquid and solid meals. J, Magn, Reson, Imagi ng 1999;9:75-80. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.