Abstract:
ObjectiveGastric emptying scintigraphy was performed with radionuclide-labeled liquid test meal to determine the best position and evaluation index for the clinical examination of gastric emptying. Subsequently, the incidence of gastroparesis in diabetic patients was evaluated, and the basis for its diagnosis and severity index was obtained.
MethodsA total of 155 participants were divided into the control (n=55) and experimental groups (n=100). The volunteers were made to drink 99Tcm-DTPA radioactive nuclide liquid test meal and to lie down on an exam table. SPECT was utilized to dynamically and instantaneously image anterior and posterior gastric emptying in the lying position. After image acquisition, the stomach area was highlighted as the ROI. Through computer processing, the time-radioactive change curve was obtained, and then lying anterior and posterior gastric-half emptying time (GET1/2) and gastric emptying rate in 30 minutes (GER30min) were calculated. Three days later, the patients received the same amount of radionuclides in liquid test meal for the dynamic imaging of posterior gastric emptying in the sitting position. Data acquisition and processing were conducted using the previously described protocol for gastric emptying in the lying position. Imaging data from the normal control and experimental groups were compared by using t-test.
ResultsIn the control group, the lying anterior GET1/2 was(12.76±2.22) min with an upper limit of 95% confidence interval of 17.1 min. This parameter could be used as a criterion for the evaluation of gastric emptying function. The GET1/2 and GER30min of the lying anterior and posterior of the normal control group were significantly different (t=5.35, 11.20, -6.37, -9.77, all P < 0.05). The lying anterior GER30min of experimental groups 1 (without digestive system symptom diabetes) and 2 (with digestive system symptom diabetes) were significantly different (t=6.22, 3.01, both P < 0.05). The lying anterior GER30min of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group, and was lower in experimental group 2 than in experimental group 1. Based on the GET1/2 of the experimental group, 41% of the patients exhibited dysfunctional gastric emptying, whereas 9% of the patients suffered from severely impaired gastric emptying.
ConclusionRadionuclide-labeled liquid test meal gastric emptying imaging is a simple, accurate and reliable detection method. GET1/2 and GER30min can be used as gastric emptying function impairment degree index, and the lying anterior position was selected as a better method of radionuclide-labeled liquid test meal gastric emptying imaging which can be used in clinical extension.