Quantitative MRI evaluation of gastric motility in patients with Parkinson's disease: Correlation of dyspeptic symptoms with volumetry and motility indices

Objective To investigate the correlation between dyspeptic symptoms and gastric motility parameters measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using volumetry and motility indices in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Materials and methods In this IRB-approved study, MRI datasets obtained from August 2014 to May 2016 in 38 PD patients were retrospectively analyzed. Patients underwent a 120-minute-long MRI study using a liquid test meal and 8 sets of scans. Gastric content volume (GCV) and total volume (TGV), gastric half emptying time (T-1/2), motility index (GMI), accommodation (GA), and emptying (GE) values were acquired. These measurements were compared between patients according to the presence of gastric symptoms: early satiety (n = 25), epigastric pain (n = 13), and dyspepsia (n = 28). Results Patients with early satiety showed significantly decreased GE of GCV and TGV (p < 0.001 and p = 0.017). Dyspeptic patients had significantly decreased GE of GCV and GMI (p = 0.001 and p = 0.029). GE of GCV at 90 and 120 minutes were significantly lower in patients with early satiety (p = 0.001 and p = 0.002). GE of GCV and GMI at 90 minutes were significantly decreased in patients with dyspepsia (p = 0.004 and p = 0.002). T-1/2 of GCV was prolonged in patients with early satiety, epigastric pain, and dyspepsia (p = 0.004, p = 0.041, and p = 0.023). T-1/2 of TGV also delayed in patients with early satiety (p = 0.023). GMI at 90 minutes was significantly correlated with dyspepsia on multivariable analysis (p = 0.028). Conclusions Gastric motility can be quantitatively assessed by MRI, showing decreased GMI, delayed GE, and prolonged T-1/2 in PD patients with early satiety or dyspepsia.