Ensure pancakes as an alternative recipe for egg-free gastric emptying studies

Gastric emptying scintigraphy provides a physiologic, noninvasive, and quantitative measurement of gastric emptying. Consensus guidelines recommended a standardized meal that consisted of an egg substitute equal to two whole eggs labeled with sulphur colloid ([ 99m Tc]Tc-SC), two slices of bread, jam, and 120 mL of water. Previous studies reported the use of commercial liquid nutrient meal (LNM) as a suitable meal for patients with egg allergy. Our work proposes an alternative recipe based on cooking commercial LNM as a pancake, and evaluates the stability of binding of several radiopharmaceuticals in simulated gastric medium, concluding that [ 99m Tc]Tc-MAA binds to LNM pancakes in percentages ≥90%, similar to scrambled eggs standardized meal, so that [ 99m Tc]Tc-MAA-LNM in pancakes could be a good alternative for patients who have allergies to eggs, intolerance to LNM or difficulties for finishing the entire standard meal, as for instance pediatric patients for whom pancakes should be an attractive recipe.