Scintigraphic evaluation of gastroesophageal reflux following gastrectomy.

Abstract

We used scintigraphy to detect and quantify gastro-esophageal reflux, and determined the sensitivity of this method for identifying patients with clinical symptoms and/or endoscopic evidence of reflux. Thirty gastrectomy patients with heartburn and regurgitation, and 8 healthy controls were studied. The gastro-esophageal reflux index, calculated from imaging data, correlated significantly with the symptom score of the subjects, and the index was significantly larger in the symptomatic patients group (7.07 +/- 1.21) than in the healthy control group (1.54 +/- 0.22) (p < 0.001). Our study suggests that scintiscanning is capable of detecting gastro-esophageal reflux accurately, rapidly, noninvasively, and with a high degree of sensitivity. In addition, scintiscanning can be employed to quantify reflux in gastrectomy patients.

• Authors: Y Fujiwara, N Hashimoto, K Nakagawa, T Kusunoki, J Utsunomiya
• Journal: Hepato-gastroenterology (Hepatogastroenterology) Vol. 40 Issue 3 Pg. 262-6 (Jun 1993) ISSN: 0172-6390 [Print] Greece
• PMID: 8325592 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Esophagitis, Peptic (diagnostic imaging)
• Female
• Gastrectomy
• Gastroesophageal Reflux (diagnostic imaging)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Postgastrectomy Syndromes (diagnostic imaging)
• Postoperative Complications (diagnostic imaging)
• Radionuclide Imaging
• Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate