Ultra-low-field Abdominal MRI Using Pineapple Juice as Oral Contrast Agent: A Preliminary Study

Motivation: Recent ultra-low-field (ULF) MRI technology developments show the potential of a new class of low-cost, low-maintenance, and portable MRI scanners for accessible and point-of-care clinical applications. Goal(s): To evaluate the feasibility of using pineapple juice as oral contrast agent in 0.05T abdominal MRI. Approach: T1W and T2W abdominal imaging was performed in healthy volunteers before, and 5 min, 15 min and 25 min after ingestion of 300 ml of pineapple juice, on a newly developed shielding-free 0.05T whole-body MRI scanner. Results: Pineapple juice acted as a positive contrast agent in T1W abdominal imaging, while a negative contrast agent in T2W abdominal imaging. Impact: We evaluate the initial feasibility of using pineapple juice as a natural oral contrast agent for 0.05T abdominal MRI. The developments can advance ultra-low-field abdominal MRI, potentially offering a more accessible, cost-effective and patient-friendly approach to address numerous clinical needs.