title: Value of radionuclide oesophageal transit in studies of functional dysphagia.
abstract: Radionuclide oesophageal transit time was evaluated in 70 individuals, divided into three groups: normal individuals, patients with non-organic dysphagia and patients with primary oesophageal motility disorders treated with per-endoscopic forced pneumatic dilatation. In all of them the oesophageal transit time of a bolus of water with 18.5 MBq (500 microCi) of 99Tmc sulphur colloid was assessed, as was the percentage of residual activity of the bolus in the oesophagus. There was a significant difference in these parameters between the control group and the group with non-organic dysphagia, the diagnostic capacity of this test being 93% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value and 90% negative predictive value, which suggests its inclusion in diagnostic protocols of dysphagias. In patients with primary oesophageal motility disorders, a significant decrease in values of residual activity has been observed after treatment with per-endoscopic forced pneumatic dilatation.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D004106:Dilatation; D004947:Esophagus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010528:Peristalsis; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013997:Time Factors