Solid Phase Radionuclide Esophageal Transit Study in Normal Chinese

Received 11/8/2000; revised 1/3/2001; accepted 2/1/2001. For correspondence or reprints contact: Shyh-Jen Wang, M.D., Department of Nuclear Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, 160, Sec. 3, Taichung Harbor Road, Taichung 407, Taiwan, R.O.C., Tel: (886)4-23741349, Fax: (886)423741348, E-mail: [email protected] Background: A sciritigraphic method using gammaemitting radiouclides to quantify the transport of a bolus through the esophagus has been developed. This method is easy and quick to perform. A normal refevence range fonthe procedure is nequired for clinical practice. The purpose of the study was to set up a normal reference range of solid phase esophageal transit function for Chinese. Methods: Twenty-eight normal healthy volunteers were enrolled for solid phase radionuclide esophageal transit study. Each subject was placed in a supine position above a gamma camera interfaced with a computer and was given a piece of scrambled egg containing 1 mCi of Tc-phytate. A computer routine modified from Klein and Wald was used in this study. Total mean transit time, regional mean transit time, residual fraction after first swallow and retrograde index were calculated. Results: The total mean transit time was 25.12 ± 6.19 sec. Mean transit time for the individual areas were: proximal, 14.68 ± 4.68 sec; middle, 16.87 ± 6.35 sec; and the distal, 16.11 ± 6.22 sec. Residual fraction and retrograde index were 0.21± 0.15% and 0.38 ± 0.15%, respectively. Conclusion: The method of radionuclide esophageal transit study is a simple, physiologic and quantitative method for evaluating esophageal motility. The normal reference range of esophageal transit will be very useful for gastroenterologist in management of dysphagia.