Sequential fast 3D MRI following oral ingestion of Gd-DOTA: A new means toassess intestinal transit time

A magnetic resonance image (MRI)-based method to determine the colonic tran sit time is described. It is based an the oral ingestion of a single dose o f 4 mi Gd-DOTA following an overnight fast and the subsequent acquisition o f fast three-dimensional (3D) gradient-echo sequences under apnea condition s, The technique was successfully evaluated in three healthy volunteers. Tr ansit of the contrast agent through the small and large intestines was easi ly followed. Thus, MRI-based colonic transit time determinations are feasib le. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.