Estimation of the enterogastric reflux by modified scintigraphic method

Area of Science:

• Nuclear medicine
• Gastroenterology
• Medical imaging

Background:

• Enterogastric reflux (EGR) is a condition affecting various patient groups.
• Accurate detection and quantification of EGR are crucial for patient management.
• Existing methods may have limitations in assessing EGR.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate a modified nuclear medicine method for EGR detection and quantification.
• To assess the clinical validity of this novel scintigraphy technique.
• To determine the presence and index of enterogastric reflux in diverse patient cohorts.

Main Methods:

• A modified nuclear medicine protocol was applied to 172 patients.
• 99mTc-Dietil IDA was administered intravenously, followed by a test meal.
• Gamma camera imaging monitored radioactivity changes in the stomach and hepatobiliary system over 90 minutes.

Main Results:

• The modified scintigraphy method demonstrated significant EGR values in patient groups compared to controls (P < 0.05).
• Patients who underwent Billroth II gastrectomy exhibited the highest frequency and quantity of EGR.
• These findings were statistically significant across different patient cohorts (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• The modified scintigraphy is a clinically valuable, non-invasive method for EGR assessment.
• The technique provides precise data on the presence and extent of enterogastric reflux.
• This nuclear medicine approach offers an exact and physiological evaluation of EGR.