Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Gastroenterology

Detailed assessment of human gastric motor function is of key importance for a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms controlling the processing and digestion of food in the gastrointestinal tract. Disorders of gastric function are highly prevalent and impair seriously the quality of life. Although investigated in many clinical studies, the underlying pathogenesis is still not fully understood. Among various medical techniques magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers the unique possibility to acquire non-invasively three-dimensional image data at high temporal and spatial resolution and with an excellent soft tissue contrast. In this work, dedicated MRI techniques are presented allowing the non-invasive assessment of human gastric motor function and gastric secretion. The results of these studies in healthy volunteers provide new insights in the functionality of food processing and digestion in the human gastrointestinal tract.