title: Studies of gastric emptying time in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the gastric emptying pattern of a standardized solid meal in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia by using scintigraphic techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  Results for the half-emptying time for solids (T1/2) and percent clearance of solid meal at 60 min (C60) of patients (n=35) having non-ulcer dyspepsia according to Rome II criteria were compared with age- and sex-matched controls (n=28). Gastric emptying was studied by using egg omelette labelled with Tc tin colloid. Data acquisition was done using two protocols: dynamic acquisition was performed for the first 100 min and then static acquisition was carried out for up to 4 h. T1/2 and C60 were calculated from the computer-generated time-activity curve.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The normal range of T1/2 was 29-88 min (mean+/-2 SD) among the control group. The mean T1/2 of the patient group was 160.1+/-96.1 min (P<0.01). Twelve of 22 male patients and 11 of 13 female patients had prolonged T1/2. The normal range of C60 was 92-28% (mean+/-2 SD) in the control group. The mean C60 of the patient group was 33.1+/-18.5% (P<0.01). Fifteen of 22 male patients and 11 of 13 female patients had shortened C60.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gastric emptying is significantly delayed in both men and women having non-ulcer dyspepsia as the T1/2 is prolonged and the C60 is shortened in a significant number of these patients. Radionuclide tests might offer an objective way of assessing this particular aspect of gastric physiology.
authors: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Multan Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy, Pakistan.
authors: Muhammad Kashif
authors: MK
authors: Rahim
authors: Durr-E-Sabih
authors: Abdul
authors: A
authors: Mateen
authors: Najam-Uddin
authors: Muhammad
authors: M
authors: Yousaf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012016:Reference Values; D013270:Stomach / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*