High Contrast to Noise Ratio (CNR) Using CO2 for Colonic Distension in 3.0 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Colonography (MRC)

Frank Zijta¹, Aart Nederveen¹, Jaap Stoker¹

Magnetic Resonance Colonography (MRC) has been increasingly evaluated as a screening technique in de detection of colorectal carcinoma (CRC). In this study we evaluated the feasibility of MRC using CO2 as intraluminal contrast medium. MRC quality is assessed by calculating the contrast to noise ratio (CNR) between colonic lumen and colonic wall. Data was acquired using T1 weighted TFE and T2 weighted HASTE sequences on a 3.0 Tesla unit. We found high CNR for all colonic segments.