Screening of colonic tumors by air-inflated magnetic resonance (MR) colonography

Purpose To assess the accuracy of air‐inflated magnetic resonance (MR) colonography for the detection of colonic lesions. Materials and Methods A total of 36 patients underwent both colonoscopy and air‐inflated MR colonography. Breath‐hold sequences (volumetric interpolated breath‐hold examination (VIBE) coronal, and half‐Fourier acquisition single‐shot turbo spin‐echo (HASTE) axial and coronal, both supine and prone) were performed with a 1.5T scanner. The detection of colonic lesions by MR colonography was then correlated with the findings from the colonoscopy performed on the same day. Results Two patients were unable to complete the MR colonography examination. Analysis was based on the results from 34 patients (17 males and 17 females, 38–70 years old, mean age = 54.9 years) who completed both examinations. MR colonography depicted two of two colonic tumors, one of one P4 (>2 cm) polyp, one of two P2 (0.5–1 cm) polyps, and two of 11 P1 (5 mm, air‐inflated MR colonography yielded a sensitivity of 75%, specificity of 93.3%, accuracy of 91.2%, positive predictive value of 60%, and negative predictive value of 96.6%. Conclusion Air‐inflated MR colonography is a new technique that deserves further investigation. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2004;19:447–452. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.