The gastroesophageal scintiscan. Comparison of methods to demonstrate gastroesophageal reflux

The gastroesophageal (GE) scintiscan method of detecting GE reflux was evaluated in a series of 54 patients. Twenty-nine patients had evidence of GE reflux by fluoroscopically monitored barium swallow, esophagogastroscopy, or esophageal biopsy. The pH reflux study showed pathological reflux in four patients. The GE scintiscan demonstrated reflux in only four of these 29 patients. Although the GE scintiscan is a safe, noninvasive technique, in our experience, GE reflux was demonstrated only in those patients in whom reflux was easily verified by barium swallow, esophagoscopy, or esophageal mucosal biopsy. This study indicates that the GE scintiscan, like the pH reflux study, is too insersitive to be of consistent value in the diagnosis of GE reflux.