Assessment of large bowel motility by cine magnetic resonance imaging using two different prokinetic agents: a feasibility study.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to assess large bowel motility, induced by 2 prokinetic agents, senna tea and erythromycin, using functional cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve volunteers underwent functional cine MRI before and after the administration of senna tea or erythromycin. The protocol consisted of 2 sets of repeated measurements using coronal T2-weighted HASTE sequences, adjusted to the course of the colon. For the assessment of large bowel motility, the changes of the luminal diameter were measured at 5 defined locations in the ascending, transverse, and descending colon. RESULTS: In all examined volunteers after senna tea, the mean number of significant changes in the ascending colon was 8.6 and after erythromycin, 7.2. In the transverse colon, 9.6 diameters changed significantly for senna tea and 7.2 for erythromycin. In the descending colon, 6.6 diameters changed after senna tea and 7.2 after erythromycin. CONCLUSION: Senna tea and erythromycin proved to induce large bowel motility; senna tea was more effective. Functional cine MRI is a reliable, noninvasive method for the assessment of colonic motility.

Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome with involvement of coecum and rectum: a rare cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) is a congenital malformation usually presenting limb asymmetry, abnormal development of the deep and superficial veins, and cutaneous capillary malformations. We describe the case of a 56-year-old male KTS patient who suffered from recurrent but life non-threatening lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Colonoscopy revealed multiple extensive cavernous hemangiomas in the coecum and the ascending colon as well as the sigmoid colon and the rectum. MR imaging showed numerous dilated vessels within the left gluteal and inguinal region. The mucosal and the submucosal layers particularly of the sigmoid colon and rectum appeared markedly broadened and displayed high signal intensities in the STIR sequences. Due to only moderate oozing at time of admission the patient was treated with oral iron supplementation so far.