MRI Evaluation of Cooperative and Non-Cooperative Patients with Non-Traumatic Acute Abdominal Pain – Preliminary Observations

Abstract Purpose To compare diagnostic performance of two MRI protocols, motion resistant and conventional breath-hold, in patients with acute abdominal pain. Materials and Methods Thirty-five patients unable to breath-hold underwent a motion-resistant protocol (Radial group). 27 patients able to breath-hold underwent conventional protocol. The diagnostic performance of MRI was calculated. Cartesian and radial 3D-GRE sequences were compared. Results In Radial group, diagnosis was correct in 31/35 patients (88.5%), with sensitivity and specificity of 85.7% and 87.5%. In Cartesian group, diagnosis was correct in 24/27 patients (88.9%), with sensitivity and specificity of 93.7% and 81.8%. Conclusion MRI appeared moderately successful for non-cooperative patients presenting with acute abdominal pain, with comparable accuracy to the standard breath-hold protocol.