A simple method to increase the diagnostic efficiency of gastroesophageal scintigraphy using the knee-chest position
Date
1999
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Abstract
Purpose: The influence of patient posture on the incidence and severity of gastroesophageal reflux is well known. Scintigraphic imaging, however, is routinely performed with the patient lying in the supine position, because current gamma camera designs do not allow for changes to the angle of the patient table. Methods: To overcome this difficulty and to increase the diagnostic sensitivity of scintigraphy, we used an alternative patient position. Twenty-seven adult patients (eight men, 19 women; mean age, 47.5+/-11.5 years) with gastroesophageal reflux disease were prospectively studied consecutively using two body positions, the supine and the knee-chest positions. Each consisted of dynamic acquisition of 450 seconds. An entire study for each patient required only 15 minutes. Images were interpreted qualitatively by three observers. Results: Although gastroesophageal reflux was positively identified in only 9 of 27 (33%) patients using the supine position, 20 of 27 (74%) patients were shown to have gastroesophageal reflux in the knee-chest position (P < 0.05). No reflux was detected in seven patients using both positions. In five patients, whose study results were positive using both positions, the number of reflux episodes was greater in the knee-chest position compared with the supine position. Conclusion: The knee-chest position increases the diagnostic efficiency of gastroesophageal reflux scintigraphy.
Description
Bu çalışma, 1997 yılında Ankara'da düzenlenen 11. National Congress on Turkish SNM'de bildiri olarak sunulmuştur.
Keywords
Radiology, nuclear medicine & medical imaging, Gastroesophageal reflux, Gastroesophageal reflux scintigraphy, Knee-chest position, Lower esophageal sphincter, Reflux disease, Pressure
Citation
Akbunar, A. T. vd. (1999). "A simple method to increase the diagnostic efficiency of gastroesophageal scintigraphy using the knee-chest position". Clinical Nuclear Medicine, 24(11), 842-844.