title: Using non-invasive radionuclide imaging to detect esophagitis in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study was to evaluate technetium-99m tetrofosmin SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) of the chest as a potential non-invasive method to evaluate esophagitis among gastroesophageal reflux disease patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we used non-invasive radionuclide imaging technetium-99m tetrofosmin chest SPECT to detect and grade esophagitis in 60 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on the endoscopic findings according to the Savary-Miller system, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy rates of technetium-99m tetrofosmin chest SPECT in detecting esophagitis were 95.2%, 72.2%, and 88.3%, respectively. The agreement between the endoscopic and technetium-99m tetrofosmin chest SPECT findings was evaluated and found to be good (kappa: 0.633, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-invasive technetium-99m tetrofosmin chest SPECT has excellent sensitivity and good accuracy as a screen for esophagitis among gastroesophageal reflux disease patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, China Medical College Hospital, No. 2, Yuh-Der Road, Taichung 404, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chang-Hu
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Shih-Chih
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Shiun
authors.forename: Nan-Yung
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Shung-Shung
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Cheng-Chun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Cheng-Chieh
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon