Diagnostic tests of gastric disorders.
In diagnostic of gastric diseases, fiberendoscopy is today the best procedure. It is superior to radiology with respect to the evaluation of mucosal lesions, the possibility of taking biopsy and therapeutic interventions like hemostatic procedures. Costs for endoscopy are not higher than for radiology. Endoscopy may have a certain morbidity - possible infections via the endoscope - and a mortality less than one per 10.000. Radiology is still useful with respect to the evaluation of motility, the type, form and size of hernias, the presence of extrinsic lesions and certain problems after surgical interventions such as fundoplication. For determination of gastric secretion, the 24-hour ambulatory gastric pH-metry using endoluminal glass electrodes is much more useful than the tests of gastric aspiration. Gastric emptying test and measurement of duodenogastric reflux play a relatively small role in clinical evaluations.
Duroux
P
P
Département de Médecine Interne, Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne, Suisse.
Bauerfeind
P
P
Blum
A L
AL
D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000150:complications; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D005745:Gastric Acidity Determination; D005750:Gastric Juice / Q000032:analysis; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging