Using non-invasive radionuclide imaging to detect esophagitis in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.
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.
Hsu
Chang-Hu
CH
Division of Gastroenterology, China Medical College Hospital, No. 2, Yuh-Der Road, Taichung 404, Taiwan.
Shiun
Shih-Chih
SC
Hsu
Nan-Yung
NY
Sun
Shung-Shung
SS
Kao
Albert
A
Lee
Cheng-Chun
CC
Lin
Cheng-Chieh
CC
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