New scintigraphic method for the quantitative measurement of enterogastric reflux

A modified, quantitative cholescintigraphic method for the assessment of enterogastric reflux has been developed. The distribution of the hepatobiliary tracer 99mTc-Hida is continuously recorded by a computer for 1 h after intravenous injection of the substance. With the patient still in a supine position under the gamma camera two administrations were made orally: 1) a gelatin capsule containing a known amount of 99mTc-pertechnetate, which was studied, making possible a determination of the relation between registered counts and known activity; and 2) 99mTc-labelled Albu-Res in water, which identified the gastric region. An intravenous injection of synthetic cholecystokinin (Kinevac) 25 min after Hida administration emptied the biliary system into the duodenum in a controllable manner. The lower limit of reflux detected by this method was about 0.5% of the Hida dose given.