Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 28, 2026

Robotic Myotomy and Partial Fundoplication for Achalasia
11:19

Robotic Myotomy and Partial Fundoplication for Achalasia

Published on: August 11, 2023

Malrotation discovered during routine radionuclide gastric emptying study

A Kovanlikaya1, J H Miller, H T Williams

  • 1Division of Nuclear Radiology, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, University of Southern California, 4650 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA.

Pediatric Radiology
|January 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

Radionuclide gastric emptying studies can detect malrotation anomalies in infants with vomiting, even when barium radiography misses them. This finding is crucial for diagnosing surgical emergencies and guiding treatment in infants with failure to thrive.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Surgical Emergencies

Background:

  • Recurrent bilious vomiting in infants often necessitates ruling out malrotation and midgut volvulus.
  • Barium upper gastrointestinal radiography is the conventional first-line imaging modality.
  • Protracted vomiting and failure to thrive may indicate conditions requiring medical management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the utility of radionuclide gastric emptying studies in identifying malrotation anomalies.
  • To present cases where radionuclide studies detected malrotation missed by barium radiography.

Main Methods:

  • Review of three pediatric cases with recurrent vomiting and failure to thrive.
  • Comparison of findings from barium upper gastrointestinal radiography and radionuclide gastric emptying studies.

Main Results:

  • Radionuclide gastric emptying studies identified malrotation anomalies in all three presented cases.
  • Antecedent barium gastrointestinal radiographic studies failed to detect the malrotation in these patients.

Conclusions:

  • Radionuclide gastric emptying studies can be a valuable tool for diagnosing malrotation in infants when initial radiographic studies are inconclusive.
  • This imaging modality may improve the detection rate of malrotation anomalies, preventing delays in diagnosis and treatment.

More Related Videos

Gastric Point of Care Ultrasound in Adults: Image Acquisition and Interpretation05:50

Gastric Point of Care Ultrasound in Adults: Image Acquisition and Interpretation

Published on: September 22, 2023

Laparoscopic Radical Gastrectomy for Remnant Gastric Cancer05:30

Laparoscopic Radical Gastrectomy for Remnant Gastric Cancer

Published on: October 31, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Radiological Investigation III: Pulmonary Angiogram and PET Scan01:13

Radiological Investigation III: Pulmonary Angiogram and PET Scan

Radiological investigations are paramount in the diagnosis and management of various pulmonary diseases. Two essential investigations are the Pulmonary Angiogram and the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan.
Pulmonary Angiogram
A Pulmonary Angiogram is an invasive procedure involving injecting a contrast medium through a catheter threaded into the pulmonary artery or the right side of the heart to visualize the pulmonary vasculature. Computed Tomography (CT) scans have mainly replaced this...
Imaging Studies II: Positron Emission Tomography and Scintigraphy01:25

Imaging Studies II: Positron Emission Tomography and Scintigraphy

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a medical imaging technique that provides crucial insights into the body's physiological functions at a molecular level. It is an indispensable resource for diagnosing, staging, and monitoring various illnesses, notably cancer, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular conditions.
Fundamental Principles of PET
Imaging Studies III: Gastrointestinal Motility Studies and Virtual Colonoscopy01:26

Imaging Studies III: Gastrointestinal Motility Studies and Virtual Colonoscopy

This lesson explores three gastrointestinal imaging techniques: radionuclide testing, colonic transit studies, and virtual colonoscopy.
Radionuclide Testing
Radionuclide testing is a sophisticated medical technique for assessing gastrointestinal motility. It focuses on gastric emptying and colonic transit time. Radioactive markers track the movement of food through the digestive system, providing insights into gastrointestinal disorders.
In gastric emptying studies, a meal's liquid and solid...
Endoscopic Procedures V: ERCP01:26

Endoscopic Procedures V: ERCP

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a diagnostic procedure that combines endoscopy and fluoroscopy to diagnose and treat conditions related to the bile ducts, pancreatic ducts, and gallbladder. This procedure is beneficial for identifying and addressing blockages, gallstones, strictures, and tumors within the biliary or pancreatic systems. ERCP is both diagnostic and therapeutic, offering the ability to visualize and treat identified problems in one session.
Patient...
Upper GI Series: Barium Swallow01:24

Upper GI Series: Barium Swallow

The Barium Swallow Study, or a Barium Esophagogram, is a diagnostic imaging method used to visualize the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. It employs barium sulfate, a radiopaque contrast material, to provide clear images of the upper digestive system, helping to identify abnormalities, diseases, or structural issues.
Purpose and Procedure
Patients undergoing this procedure ingest a liquid containing barium sulfate with a chalky...
Pyloric Obstruction01:11

Pyloric Obstruction

Pyloric obstruction, also referred to as gastric outlet obstruction, is a condition characterized by narrowing or blockage at the pylorus—the muscular valve regulating the flow of stomach contents into the duodenum. When this passage becomes impaired, the stomach cannot effectively empty its contents into the small intestine. This disruption leads to a range of gastrointestinal symptoms, including early satiety, bloating, epigastric pain, postprandial nausea, persistent vomiting, and...