Abstract
Gastro-esophageal scintigraphy (milk scan) is an accurate technique for detecting gastro-esophageal reflux that can be performed rapidly with minimal patient discomfort. A retrospective study was performed to find out to how much radionuclide milk scan is sensitive for detecting gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) for 89 patients who subjected to milk scan within Years 2010 to 2013. The study group age is ranging from one month old to four years old. Milk scan was performed using PHILIPS and SEIMENS machine. Tc 99-m sulfur colloid with milk administrated orally or through nasogastric tube to the patient. The highest frequency for milk scan study was in age group of 0 - 6 months old with 77% positive finding. Patients who suffer repeated vomiting represented the highest reason of examination for milk scan (46% of overall cases), while chocking attacks, pulmonary aspiration, and congenital heart disease, were 26%, 16%, 12% respectively of the overall cases. Seventy-nine percent of patients who prepared to be examine using nasogastric tube found with positive finding, 50% of GER patients have abnormal tracer activity in the mid of esophagus; on the other hand, 50% of GER patients divided equally between the lower and upper esophagus. The study show that infants especially in age of 0 - 6 months old and with repeated vomiting symptoms are strongly recommended to milk scan study rather than fluoroscopy to avoid unnecessary dose to the patients.
Highlights
Nuclear medicine is the scientific and clinical application of unsealed radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostic, the-How to cite this paper: Bafaraj, S. and Alzahrani, A. (2015) Sensitivity of Esophageal Scintigraphy (Milk Scans) in Detecting Gastro-Esophageal Reflux
Milk scan is done to establish the presence of gastro-esophageal reflux which may cause chemical pneumonitis, bacterial pneumonia or mechanical obstruction of the airway
We found in our study, in regard gastroesophageal reflux (GER) incidence according to repeated vomiting, pulmonary aspiration, choking attacks, and CHD symptoms, the studies show that repeated vomiting is the highest frequency reason for milk scan study with 46% of the overall cases, the positive finding of GER were 51% for repeated vomiting, so repeated vomiting represents the most frequent symptom for GER
Summary
Nuclear medicine is the scientific and clinical application of unsealed radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostic, the-How to cite this paper: Bafaraj, S. and Alzahrani, A. (2015) Sensitivity of Esophageal Scintigraphy (Milk Scans) in Detecting Gastro-Esophageal Reflux. How to cite this paper: Bafaraj, S. and Alzahrani, A. (2015) Sensitivity of Esophageal Scintigraphy (Milk Scans) in Detecting Gastro-Esophageal Reflux. In vivo function studies measure the function of a given organ based upon the concentration, dilution, absorption or excretion of a radiopharmaceutical. They do not require an image of the distribution of the radiopharmaceutical but an accurate measurement of the activity present within an organ or body fluid sample. Gastro-esophageal scintigraphy (milk scan) is an accurate technique for detecting gastro-esophageal reflux that can be performed rapidly with minimal patient inconvenience. Milk scan is done to establish the presence of gastro-esophageal reflux which may cause chemical pneumonitis, bacterial pneumonia or mechanical obstruction of the airway. Common symptoms are respiratory problems, iron deficiency anemia, and failure to thrive [1]
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