title: Gastric emptying scintigraphy results in children are affected by age, anthropometric factors, and study duration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A standardized 4-h adult-based gastric emptying scintigraphy (GES) protocol is increasingly being used in children to evaluate for gastroparesis. We sought to determine the effect of age, anthropometrics, and study duration on GES results using this protocol in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of children who underwent a 4-h solid-meal GES study at a tertiary care center. GES results and anthropometric data (e.g., weight, stature, body surface area [BSA]) were systematically captured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 216 children, 188 (87%) were able to complete the study meal. Children unable to complete the meal were younger and smaller. In multivariate analysis, only increasing BSA was identified as being positively associated with ability to complete the meal (odds ratio: 19.7; p < 0.001). Of those completing the meal, 48 (26%) had delayed emptying (4-h retention value >10%). These children were significantly younger and smaller than those with normal emptying. In multivariate analysis of those completing the meal, only increasing BSA (odds ratio: 0.26; p = 0.006) was identified as being negatively associated with delayed emptying. There was a progressive increase in the positive predictive value for identification of delayed gastric emptying as the duration of the study increased (0.25, 0.60, and 0.71 at 1, 2, and 3 h, respectively) using the 4-hr value as a comparator.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Young children have more difficulty completing the GES meal. Childhood gastric retention is affected by age and anthropometric factors, primarily BSA. The standardized 4-h GES protocol may need to take these factors into account in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Shulman
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Chumpitazi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000886:Anthropometry; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D018589:Gastroparesis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: children; dyspepsia; gastric emptying; gastroparesis; motility; nuclear medicine