Esophageal scintigraphy: a comparison with esophagoscopy

Fifty consecutive patients with different esophageal symptoms were investigated with esophageal endoscopy, transit scintigraphy, and gastroesophageal (GE) scintigraphy with extra-abdominal compression. Scintigraphic findings were abnormal in 27 of those 31 patients (87%) who were classified as abnormal at endoscopy. A prolonged transit time was the commonest finding, but hiatal hernia and GE reflux were also found. However, the scintigraphic procedure showed abnormalities in 6 of 19 (31%) who were classified as normal at endoscopy. Esophageal scintigraphy is recommended as a screening test before endoscopy is decided on.