Expected Values of Esophageal Transit and Gastric Emptying Scintigraphy Post-uncomplicated Sleeve Gastrectomy

Background. Gastrointestinal motility and serum thyroid hormone levels are closely related. Our aim was to analyze whether there is a disorder in esophagogastric motor functions as a result of hypothyroidism.Materials and Methods. The study group included 30 females (mean age ± SE 45.17 ± 2.07 years) with primary hypothyroidism and 10 healthy females (mean age ± SE 39.40 ± 3.95 years). All cases underwent esophagogastric endoscopy and scintigraphy. For esophageal scintigraphy, dynamic imaging of esophagus motility protocol, and for gastric emptying scintigraphy, anterior static gastric images were acquired.Results. The mean esophageal transit time (52.56 ± 4.07 sec for patients; 24.30 ± 5.88 sec for controls;P=.02) and gastric emptying time (49.06 ± 4.29 min for the hypothyroid group; 30.4 ± 4.74 min for the control group;P=.01) were markedly increased in cases of hypothyroidism.Conclusion. Hypothyroidism prominently reduces esophageal and gastric motor activity and can cause gastrointestinal dysfunction.

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Impact of methodical guidelines of gastric scintigraphy on patients’ radiation exposure

Gastroenterologie a hepatologie ◽

10.48095/ccgh2021159 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 75 (2) ◽

pp. 159-164

Author(s):

Martina Horváthová ◽

Zuzana Bárdyová ◽

Darina Budošová ◽

Rastislav Husťak

Keyword(s):

Gastric Emptying ◽

Radiation Exposure ◽

Gold Standard ◽

Retrospective Cohort ◽

Noninvasive Method ◽

Lower Intensity ◽

Medicine Department ◽

Nuclear Medicine Department ◽

Gastric Emptying Scintigraphy ◽

Gastric Scintigraphy

Introduction: Gastric emptying scintigraphy (GES) is a safe, noninvasive method for assessing the ability of the stomach to empty which has been used clinically for many years. It is considered as a “gold standard” to assess gastric emptying of both solids and liquids allowing assessment of early, mid and late emptying, each of which may be altered by pathology. The aim of the study was to analyse standard diagnostic approach and evaluate patients` radiation exposure, who underwent GES in Slovakia. Methods: A retrospective cohort study included 55 patients from 2 departments of nuclear medicine (department A, B). Patients’ radiation exposure was determined by dosimetry program IDAC-Dose2.1. The radiopharmaceutical 99mTc-DTPA, always with the same activity, was applied orally to patients at Department B. The applied activity of the radiopharmaceutical at GES was 185 MBq. The radiopharmaceutical 99mTc MAA, with various activity, was applied orally to patients at Department A. Results: According to ICRP60, the eff ective dose (ED) of every patient undergoing GES was 0.77 mSv and, according to ICRP103, the dose was 0.836 mSv at Department B. Patients at Department A were exposed to ionizing radiation with 5-times lower intensity, compared with patients at Department B. It was caused by radiopharmaceutical activity correction. The ED medians according to ICRP60, and according to ICRP103 were 0.167 mSv (range 0.105–0.208 mSv) and 0.181 mSv (range 0.113–0.226 mSv) at Department A, respectively. Discussion: Adequate correction of applied radiopharmaceutical activity is an essential part of GES guidelines and in accordance with ALARA principles. For the accuracy of GES examination, it is necessary to follow a standard 4-hour protocol and an approach which ensures full-featured utilization of the examination while decreasing patient`s radiation exposure. Conclusion: The results of our study show relatively low ED associated with GES, but also confi rm that the GES methodology significantly affects the patient`s radiation exposure

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