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  • Title: Utility of whole gut transit scintigraphy in patients with chronic gastrointestinal symptoms.
    Author: Balan K, Alwis L, Sonoda LI, Pawaroo D, Parry-Jones DR, Middleton S.
    Journal: Nucl Med Commun; 2010 Apr; 31(4):328-33. PubMed ID: 20072076.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: To review our experience of doing whole gut transit scintigraphy in patients presenting with functional gastrointestinal problems and to determine its clinical usefulness. METHOD: All whole gut transit studies using a liquid meal over a 5-year-period were reviewed and clinical outcome assessed. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients (44 women; mean age 43 years) underwent whole gut transit scintigraphy using indium-111 diethylene triamine penta-acetic acid in water. The main symptoms were constipation (49%), dyspepsia (25%) and diarrhoea (25%). Colonic transit was delayed in 63% of patients with constipation, which was significantly (P=0.005) higher than that in patients with dyspepsia. Delayed colonic transit was also seen in 43% of patients with diarrhoea. Only 26% of patients with constipation had a delay in liquid gastric emptying and small bowel transit. Gastric emptying, small bowel transit and colonic transit were normal in 43, 79 and 29% of patients with dyspepsia, respectively. There was no statically significant difference in gastric emptying and small bowel transit between patients with constipation, diarrhoea and dyspepsia. CONCLUSION: Liquid-phase whole gut transit scintigraphy seems to be a useful investigation in patients with chronic gastrointestinal symptoms. Rational use of this modality may help the clinician change the management or better characterize the underlying problem/diagnosis in the majority of patients with functional symptoms.
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