Rapid Sequence MRI Analysis of Acute Abdominal Pain

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of non-contrast rapid sequences (RAMRI) visualization on cases who were clinically diagnosed as having acute abdominal pain (AAP).

Materials and Methods: Forty-six patients were chosen from 2850 patients who were admitted to the emergency service between January 2016 - January 2019 because of sudden onset abdominal pain and could not get a computerized tomography analysis. A 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance (MR) device (GE Signa Hi-Speed, Milwaukee) was used for analysis. Coronal and axial T2-weighted single-shot fast spin-echo series were used as scan protocol. No intravenous, oral or rectal contrast material was used. The cases were identified as positive (+) or negative (-) by MRI. The cases who had symptoms related with AAP, were considered as positive (+), and the cases who did not have symptoms or had symptoms which were not related with AAP, were considered as negative (-).

Results: Of the patients, 26 (56.5%), were female and 20 (43.5%) were male. The median age was 38.65 (18-86) years. The treatment methodology was surgery for 25 cases (54%) and conservative for 21 (46%) cases. The operative group (surgically treated) included 24 MR (+) and one MR (-) cases. There was a harmony between the clinic and MRI data of all members in non-surgical group. The accuracy of the study was calculated as 95.6% (44/46). The sensitivity of RAMRI was calculated as 96% for operative group and 100% for non-operative group.

Conclusion: A successful diagnostic performance was achieved by non-contrast RAMRI in cases with AAP.