Thirty children (aged 2 months to 3 years) with clinical evidence of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and respiratory disease were investigated. Eighteen patients had normal nutritional status, four had mild undernutrition and eight were severely undernourished. Barium swallow and radionuclide gastroesophageal and lung scintigrams were carried out in all patient. Barium swallow showed evidence of GER in 86.6%, esophageal scintigraphy in 90% and, the combined results of both methods in 100%of our cases. Pulmonary aspirates from esophageal contents were detected in 26.7% of the patients, all showing severe clinical and radiological evidence of pulmonary disease. Our results suggest that radionuclide gastroesophageal and lung scintigraphy are useful tools for the diagnosis of GER and pulmonary aspiration, respectively. However radiological studies remain necessary for the accurate description of the anatomical features of the esophagus. (
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