Abstract
Scintigraphic studies of swallowed 99 m Tc-sulphur colloid mixed with a few millilitres of liquid, performed on 400 paediatric patients of all ages, allowed visualisation of foregut function and measurement of oesophageal transit time and gastric emptying proportions. This non-invasive and physiological procedure requires a standard gamma camera with computing facilities and was performed as an outpatient routine. It proved very effective for the detection of gastro-oesophageal reflux and aspiration of refluxed liquid in patients of all ages but especially in neonates. The relevance of these scintigraphic results to oesophagitis, repeated respiratory problems, cyanotic and apnoeic spells and alternative methods of investigation is described.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Darling D, Mc Cauley R, Leape L, Ramenofsky M, Bhan K, Leonidas J (1982) The child with peptic esophagitis: A correlation of radiologic signs with esophageal pathology. Radiology 145:673–676
Euler A, Arment M (1977) Value of esophageal manometric studies in the gastro esophageal reflux of infancy. Pediatrics 59:58–61
Forget P, Meradji M (1976) Contribution of fibre optic endoscopy to diagnosis and management of children with gastroesophageal reflux. Arch Dis Child 51:60–66
Heyman S, Kilpatrick J, Winter H, Treves S (1979) An improved radionuclide method for the diagnosis of gastro esophageal reflux and aspiration in children (milk scan). Radiology 131:479–482
Kazem I (1972) A new scintigraphic technique for the study of the esophagus. AJR 115:681–684
Rudd T, Christie D (1979) Demonstration of gastro esophageal reflux in children by radionuclide gastro esophagography. Radiology 131:483–486
Tuttle S, Grossman M (1958) Detection of gastro esophageal reflux by simultaneous measurement of intraluminal pressure and pH. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 98:225–227
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Guillet, J., Basse-Cathalinat, B., Christophe, E. et al. Routine studies of swallowed radionuclide transit in paediatrics: Experience with 400 patients. Eur J Nucl Med 9, 86–90 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00254443
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00254443