Interactive neonatal gastrointestinal magnetic resonance imaging using fruit juice as an oral contrast media

BACKGROUND: The objective was to evaluate the use of fruit juice with an interactive inversion recovery (IR) MR pulse sequence to visualise the gastrointestinal tract. METHODS: We investigated the relaxation properties of 12 different natural fruit juices in vitro, to identify which could be used as oral contrast. We then describe our initial experience using an interactive MR pulse sequence to allow optimal visualisation after administering pineapple juice orally, and suppressing pre-existing bowel fluid contents, with variable TI in three adult and one child volunteer. RESULTS: Pineapple juice (PJ) had both the shortest T(1) (243 ms) and shortest T(2) (48 ms) of the fruit juices tested. Optimal signal differentiation between pre-existing bowel contents and oral PJ administration was obtained with TIs of between 900 and 1100 ms. CONCLUSION: The use of an inversion recovery preparation allowed long T(1) pre-existing bowel contents to be suppressed whilst the short T(1) of fruit juice acts as a positive contrast medium. Pineapple juice could be used as oral contrast agent for neonatal gastrointestinal magnetic resonance imaging.