Esophageal transit scintigraphy in systemic sclerosis

Abstract

Systemic sclerosis is a rare connective tissue disease, distinctive features of which are fibrosis and microangiopathy. The esophagus is one of the most commonly involved internal organs. Most patients experience dysphagia, difficulties in swallowing and gastro-esophageal reflux. However, in up to one third of cases, the initial onset of esophageal disease may be clinically silent. There are several diagnostic modalities available for assessing both morphological and functional abnormalities of the esophagus. If structural abnormalities are suspected, endoscopy is the method of choice. Functional evaluation is best achieved with manometry. Both endoscopy and manometry are invasive techniques, with low patient acceptance. Barium-contrast study is well tolerated, but qualitative assessment of functional abnormalities is imprecise. Esophageal scintigraphy is an easy, non-invasive, sensitive and specific diagnostic modality. It can detect esophageal dysfunction even in asymptomatic patients. In patients already diagnosed with systemic sclerosis, scintigraphy is useful in evaluating severity and progression of the disease.

Assessment of swallowing function with oro‐pharyngeal‐esophageal scintigraphy in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies

“…Although OPES cannot completely substitute endoscopy or esophageal x‐ray in the detection of morphological abnormalities, it is an easy and efficient technique for functional evaluation . Moreover, by using this test it is possible to semiquantitatively measure the transit time and the retention of the swallowed bolus, and the amount of inhaled food, and it can represent an attractive screening tool during the initial diagnosis and during the patients' follow‐up, to monitor the disease progression and response to treatment; additional studies are needed on the patients' follow‐up.…”

Esophageal Transit Time Scintigraphy in the Assessment of the Esophagus Motility

“…From the time activity curves, the useful and repeatable esophageal transit time ETT and esophageal emptying time (EET) are calculated. ETT is the time between the appearance of 50% of radioactivity in the upper esophagus and clearance of 50% of activity from the entire esophagus, while EET is the time between the appearance of 50% of the radioactivity in the upper part of the esophagus and clearance of 100% of activity from the entire esophagus [7][8][9][10][11] .…”

Assessment of gastric dysmotility using standardized Tc-99m sulfur colloid-labeled rice cakes in diabetic patients

“…Fluoroscopic study with barium swallow is useful in assessing GI tract morphology and to some extent its motility function. [ 6 7 ] pH manometry is used in evaluation of reflux disorders. However, manometry is an invasive technique and has poor patient acceptance and compliance.…”