[Evaluation of the usefulness of assessing pulmonary aspiration in a gastroesophageal reflux scintigraphy study].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the benefit of routine pulmonary imaging with a five hour delay in gastroesophageal reflux scintigraphy (GERS) to detect pulmonary aspiration.


METHODS
755 cases were analyzed (400 men, 355 women) within a wide range of age (1 month up to 94 years, mean of 5.2 years). Presence of reflux, its frequency, severity, and esophageal extension were investigated. Delayed pulmonary images assessed the presence of radioactivity in the lungs.


RESULTS
307 cases of gastroesophageal reflux were identified, 84 of which with just one episode, 51 with 2 episodes, 45 with 3, 37 with 4, 18 with 5, and 72 with more than 5. Concerning severity of these 307 cases 22 had no evaluation, 179 were mild, 69 intermediate, and 37 severe. Degree of esophageal extension was not recorded for 6 cases; in 46 cases reflux covered the lower third of the esophagus, in 83 cases it reached the central third, in 161 the upper third, and in 11 cases it extended to the mouth. Delayed pulmonary images were available in 753 cases and none showed signs of lung aspiration.


CONCLUSIONS
Delayed pulmonary images were negative in all cases regardless of the patients' age or severity of the disease. This is suggestive that either lung aspiration is rare in GERS procedures or delayed pulmonary imaging has a sensitivity that is too low to permit detection.
Seção de Medicina Nuclear, Fleury - Centro de Medicina Diagnóstica, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
Ariadne
A
Gouvea
Michele Santi
MS
Costa
Flávia Costa
FC
Aldighieri
Marco Antônio Condé de
MA
Oliveira
Júlio Cesar Rodrigues
JC
Pereira
Paulo Schiavom
PS
Duarte
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007223:Infant; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000008:administration & dosage; D053120:Respiratory Aspiration / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals