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Free keywords:
Real-time MRI; dynamic imaging; swallowing; deglutition; dysphagia
Abstract:
Purpose: To evaluate the use of a novel real-time magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) technique for the assessment
of normal swallowing dynamics.
Materials and Methods: In a cohort of 10 healthy subjects,
real-time MRI movies at 24.3 frames per second
were obtained in sagittal, coronal, and axial orientation
during self-controlled swallows of 5 mL pineapple juice as
oral contrast bolus. All studies were performed with the
use of a commercial MRI system at 3 T combining two
sets of radiofrequency receiver coils. Real-time movies
relied on a fast low-angle shot (FLASH) MRI sequence
with radial undersampling and image reconstruction by
nonlinear inversion yielding 41.23 msec acquisition time
for an in-plane resolution of 1.5 mm. Evaluations focused
on clinical image quality as well as visualization and temporal
quantification of distinct swallowing functions.
Results: Throughout the entire process, the swallowing
dynamics were well depicted and characterized with
almost no visible image artifacts in all subjects. The midsagittal
plane turned out to be most valuable. The movies
allowed for a quantitative determination of the temporal
pattern of all swallowing events.
Conclusion: The proposed real-time MRI technique yields
noninvasive, robust, and quantitative access to the physiology
of normal swallowing in healthy subjects at high
temporal resolution and image quality.
