title: The Scintigraphic Findings of Gastroesophageal Reflux in Children is Related to Body Weight?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the most common cause of children admissions to pediatric gastroenterology unit and affects about 30% of pediatric population. Body weight and height percentiles of children with GERD and their relationship between presence and the severity of reflux on scintigraphic images were studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who underwent reflux scintigraphy between 2005 - 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Among 200 patients, 49 patients were involved that their ages were ranging from 0 to 18 years old and body weight and height percentiles were recorded. Accurately 37 MBq (1 mCi) 99mTc-MAA in 100 - 150 mL of milk was ingested by the patient. Presence, number, duration and level of reflux were evaluated on the dynamic images. Presences of reflux within last ten minute were also recorded. Region-of-interests were drawn on esophagus and stomach and reflux ratio (RR) was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ratio of the presence of reflux which occurred within the last ten minutes was significantly higher in children with low body weight percentile. High-level reflux frequency was higher in these children than in normal's. Presence of reflux which occurred within the last ten minutes was related with low body weight percentile.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If reflux is shown within the last ten minutes and there is high level of reflux, the clinician should be warned about possible low body weight percentile in the future and scintigraphic study should be a guide or a reference for the assessment of more effective treatment methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Duzce University School of Medicine, Turkey.
authors.forename: Melih Engin
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Erkan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Duzce University School of Medicine, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aybars
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Duzce University School of Medicine, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ayse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Duzce University School of Medicine, Turkey.
authors.forename: Muhammet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asik
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Duzce University School of Medicine, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cemalettin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gunes
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Duzce University School of Medicine, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Zeki
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Yilmaztekin
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Duzce University School of Medicine, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet Semih
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Dogan
keywords: Body weight; Gastroesophageal reflux disease; Scintigraphy