Hypotonic MR duodenography with water ingestion alone: feasibility and technique.

To date, cross-sectional imaging of the duodenum has a number of inadequacies, most likely a reflection of its tortuous and complex anatomical course, resulting in somewhat suboptimal imaging. The purpose of this study was to describe and assess the feasibility of performing a 'tubeless', per-oral, single contrast, hypotonic magnetic resonance (MR) duodenography technique. Secondly, to assess the efficacy of intravenous Buscopan in facilitating duodenal distension at cross-sectional MR imaging.

Potential role of Calogen as an oral contrast medium in the evaluation of the gastric wall at MRI.

Evaluation of gastric wall pathology using cross-sectional imaging has proved difficult, particularly in the imaging of early, localized disease. The properties of Calogen as a negative oral contrast agent for the evaluation of the upper gastro-intestinal tract and retroperitoneum in CT has been well described. We assess the suitability of this agent as an oral contrast medium for use in MRI examination of the gastric wall, finding the mean scores for Calogen and water with regard to gastric distension to be 8.