Correlation Between Timed Barium Esophagogram and Esophageal Transit Scintigraphy Results in Achalasia.
BACKGROUND
Timed barium esophagogram (TBE) and esophageal transit scintigraphy (ETS) have been adopted as useful ways to evaluate achalasia patients. TBE has merit as a simple, non-invasive, and convenient method.


OBJECTIVE
The study sought to compare the results of these two tests and verify their usefulness in evaluating treatment response. In addition, we assessed whether TBE could effectively replace ETS through correlation analysis.


METHODS
The medical records of 50 achalasia patients treated between September 2011 and June 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. The height and width of the barium column at 1, 2, and 5 min were measured by TBE. Half-life (T 1/2, min) and R 30 (percentage of remaining radioactivity 30 s after radioisotope ingestion) were measured by ETS. Both tests were performed before and after treatment, and the tests were carried out 1 and 2 days after procedures. And we analyzed the correlation between the parameters from the two tests.


RESULTS
The parameters of TBE and ETS were improved after treatment (p < 0.05). Before treatment, the height and width results at 5 min from TBE positively correlated with the T 1/2 parameter from ETS (correlation coefficients of 0.59 and 0.75, respectively). After treatment, the correlation coefficients between the 5-min height and width of the barium column by TBE and T 1/2 by ETS were 0.55 and 0.46, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Both TBE and ETS are useful modalities in assessing esophageal emptying and response to achalasia treatment. TBE and ETS results have a statistically significant correlation both pre- and post-treatment. We suggest that TBE could effectively replace ETS for the assessment of achalasia.
Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Gastroenterology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 712 Eonjuro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-720, Korea.
Yoo Mi
YM
Park
Han Ho
HH
Jeon
Jae Jun
JJ
Park
Jie-Hyun
JH
Kim
Young Hoon
YH
Youn
Hyojin
H
Park
D000328:Adult; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004931:Esophageal Achalasia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D003287:Contrast Media; D001466:Barium Sulfate