Gastric emptying scan
Gastric emptying scan is a medical diagnostic test used to evaluate the process of gastric emptying in the stomach. This test is often used to diagnose conditions such as gastroparesis, GERD, and other gastrointestinal disorders.
Procedure[edit | edit source]
The gastric emptying scan procedure involves the patient consuming a meal that contains a small amount of a radioactive substance. This substance can be detected by a gamma camera, which is used to take images of the stomach and monitor the rate at which the meal leaves the stomach.
The patient is typically asked to fast for at least 12 hours before the test. The meal consumed during the test is usually a solid food, such as scrambled eggs, that has been mixed with the radioactive substance. The patient then lies on a table and the gamma camera takes images of the stomach at regular intervals, usually every 15 minutes to 1 hour, for up to 4 hours.
Interpretation[edit | edit source]
The images taken during the gastric emptying scan are used to calculate the rate of gastric emptying. This is typically expressed as a percentage of the meal that has left the stomach at various time points. A slower than normal rate of gastric emptying may indicate a condition such as gastroparesis, while a faster than normal rate may suggest other conditions such as dumping syndrome.
Risks and Complications[edit | edit source]
The risks associated with a gastric emptying scan are minimal. The amount of radiation exposure is low and similar to that of other diagnostic imaging tests. However, as with any procedure involving radiation, there is a small risk of developing cancer later in life. Pregnant women and those who are breastfeeding should avoid this test due to the potential risk to the fetus or infant.
See Also[edit | edit source]
 | This medical article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
