Imaging studies in dyspepsia

Abstract

Patients with functional dyspepsia have discomfort centred in the upper abdomen in the absence of oesophagitis, ulcer, cancer or other pathology which could have explained the dyspepsia. It is generally accepted that neither endoscopy, nor other imaging modalities give any positive findings supporting the diagnosis. However, recent investigations have shown that both endoscopic and ultrasonographic imaging show changes: erosive prepyloric changes (EPC) and accommodation abnormalities, respectively, in a high percentage of the patients. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the changes are not yet known, but the fact that they are also seen in several other conditions characterised by dyspepsia, for instance in gallstone disease, may simply indicate that they are linked to epigastric discomfort in general, and not to a specific dyspeptic condition. Ultrasonographic imaging is a non‐invasive, widely available, convenient, and reliable method for evaluation of gastric emptying, gastric motility, transpyloric flow and accommodation disturbances, which may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of dyspepsia. Copyright © 1998 Taylor and Francis Ltd.

Intersubject and intrasubject variability of gastric volumes in response to isocaloric liquid meals in functional dyspepsia and health2

“…11,12,[16][17][18][19] Current volumetric imaging techniques such as MRI can reflect in a non-invasive approach the physiology of the postprandial gastric adaptation process and have the potential to be integrated in the clinical management of patients with functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. 7,12,13,[20][21][22][23] Further use of these imaging modalities requires the evaluation of the day-to-day variability of gastric volume responses to meal ingestion in health and in dyspeptic patients and under therapeutic intervention. 9 However, data on the reproducibility of gastric volume measurements, i.e.…”

Dose finding study of mosapride in functional dyspepsia: a placebo‐controlled, randomized study

“…Delayed gastric emptying and disturbed intestinal motility have been proposed to be of importance in many cases 13 , . 15–20 Clinical studies have demonstrated the beneficial effect of promotility drugs, such as cisapride and domperidone, 3 , 21–24 but negative results have also been published 22 , . 25–30 …”

New Directions in the Assessment of Gastric Function: Clinical Applications of Physiologic Measurements

“…Ultrasonography has been used to evaluate gastric emptying, antral wall motion, transpyloric fl ow, and proximal stomach volumes [23][24][25] . Measurements are made relative to anatomic landmarks.…”