Studies of gastric emptying time in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia.
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.
Rahim
Muhammad Kashif
MK
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Multan Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy, Pakistan.
Durr-E-Sabih
Mateen
Abdul
A
Najam-Uddin
Yousaf
Muhammad
M
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*