ISSN:
1573-2568
Keywords:
DYSPEPSIA
;
GASTROPARESIS
;
SCINTIGRAPHY
;
GASTROINTESTINAL MOTILITY
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract In this retrospective analysis, we compareddifferent methods to evaluate gastric emptying function,aiming to improve the sensitivity and the clinicalavailability of our diagnostic testing. In the first study, we compared, in 72 patients clinicallysuspected of gastroparesis, the emptying of a mealcontaining two solid nutrients with differentdisintegration rates: 111Inlabeled scrambled eggs and99Tc-labeled liver cubes. Gastric emptying of111In-labeled egg was delayed in 12 of ourpatients and the evacuation of the99Tc-labeled liver was prolonged in 19patients. The choice of the nutrient was not important for the identification of diabeticgastroparesis (43% vs 57%; NS), but it was determinantin the case of patients suspected of idiopathicgastroparesis (12% were positive with the egg and 25%with the liver; P 〈 0.05). In the second study, wecompared two different diagnostic methods in 46patients: a simple radiological detection of the gastricemptying of radiopaque pellets, and the scintigraphic emptying of a solid meal containing99Tc-labeled liver cubes. Both testscorrelated perfectly in 78% of our patients. In 15% ofthe population (six of these seven patients werediabetics suspected of gastroparesis) the scintigraphic method was normal, while theevacuation of radiopaque pellets was delayed. Forclinical purposes, we therefore propose: (1) thescintigraphic method should use liver rather than egg as a radiolabeled tracer in order to improve thesensitivity of the test for detection of gastroparesis;and (2) the radiological detection of radiopaque markersis a reliable and convenient method for the detection of gastroparesis in clinicalpractice. It is possibly more sensitive thanscintigraphy.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1018877512302
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