Automatic detection of small bowel contraction frequencies in motility plots using lomb-scargle periodogram and sinus-fitting method-initial experience

Purpose Contraction frequencies are an important parameter for the analysis of bowel motility in MRI. The contraction curve can be rather noisy and the frequency‐evaluation might be difficult. The aim was to evaluate manual calculations of small bowel contraction frequency in comparison with automatic calculations using two mathematically established methods. Methods The institutional‐review‐board approved study consisted of 48 segmental small‐bowel motility‐plots out of a previous study with 25 patients (15 men/10 women; mean 39 years, standard deviation ± 14.67) undergoing MRI (1.5 T, GE‐Medical Systems; two‐dimensional‐Fiesta, pulse repetition time 2.91, echo time 1.25, flip‐angle 45°, matrix 256 × 256, slice thickness 10 mm) were evaluated. Calculations of contraction frequency was performed either manually or using Lomb‐Scargle‐periodograms and Sinus‐Fitting method. The results were compared using intraclass correlation coefficient, Friedman's‐test and Wilcoxon‐matched‐paired‐signed‐rank‐test (P