title: Diagnosis of diabetic gastroparesis on Tc-99m hepatobiliary scintigraphy.
abstract: Diabetic gastroparesis is a common problem in diabetics, especially insulin-dependent diabetics. The diagnosis usually is suggested on plain radiographs and confirmed on either upper gastrointestinal barium series or radionuclide gastric emptying studies. The clinical diagnosis is not always easy and some patients may present atypically with right upper quadrant pain simulating acute cholecystitis. In these patients, hepatobiliary scintigraphy may be the initial investigation performed and may first demonstrate unsuspected gastroparesis. Therefore, it is useful for the nuclear medicine physician to be aware of this entity to ensure early diagnosis and prompt treatment. The authors report one such case of diabetic gastroparesis that was diagnosed initially on a Tc-99m hepatobiliary scan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Toronto Hospital, Western Division, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meindok
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aggarwal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007098:Imino Acids; D008297:Male; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010243:Paralysis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D019785:Technetium Tc 99m Disofenin
chemical_list: D007098:Imino Acids; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019785:Technetium Tc 99m Disofenin