Assessment of Gastric Dysmotility Using Standardized Tc-99m Sulfur Colloid-Labeled Rice Cakes in Diabetic Patients

Area of Science:

• Nuclear medicine
• Gastroenterology
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Diabetes mellitus is a prevalent lifestyle disease often associated with underdiagnosed gastric dysmotility.
• Gastric emptying abnormalities are common in diabetic patients, impacting disease management and quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the diagnostic utility of Technetium-99m sulfur colloid (Tc-99m SC)-labeled meal gastric emptying scintigraphy in patients with Type 2 diabetes.
• To evaluate gastric emptying patterns in Type 2 diabetic patients compared to healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• A study included 43 Type 2 diabetic patients and 30 controls.
• Gastric emptying was assessed using serial planar imaging after consuming a Tc-99m SC-labeled idly meal.
• Standardized criteria were used to define delayed gastric emptying at 1, 2, and 4 hours post-meal.

Main Results:

• Mean gastric emptying half-time (T1/2) was similar between diabetic patients and controls (P=0.056).
• However, mean gastric emptying at 1 hour was significantly slower in diabetic patients (P < 0.01).
• Delayed gastric emptying was observed in 4.6% of diabetic patients, but none of the controls.

Conclusions:

• Diabetic patients exhibited faster gastric emptying overall compared to controls.
• Gastric emptying parameters showed no significant association with diabetes duration or HbA1c levels.
• A weak correlation was found between gastric emptying and fasting blood sugar on the day of the scan.