Scintigraphic scoring system for grading severity of gastro-esophageal reflux on 99mTc sulfur colloid gastro-esophageal reflux scintigraphy: A prospective study of 39 cases with pre and post treatment assessment

Abstract

Aim:The study aimed at developing a scoring system for scintigraphic grading of gastro-esophageal reflux (GER), on gastro-esophageal reflux scintigraphy (GERS) and comparison of clinical and scintigraphic scores, pre- and post-treatment.Materials and Methods:A total of 39 cases with clinically symptomatic GER underwent 99mTc sulfur colloid GERS; scores were assigned based on the clinical and scintigraphic parameters. Post domperidone GERS was performed after completion of treatment. Follow up GERS was performed and clinical and scintigraphic parameters were compared with baseline parameters.Results:Paired t-test on pre and post domperidone treatment clinical scores showed that the decline in post-treatment scores was highly significant, with P value < 0.001. The scintigraphic scoring system had a sensitivity of 93.9% in assessing treatment response to domperidone, specificity of 83.3% i.e., 83.3% of children with no decline in scintigraphic scores show no clinical response to Domperidone. The scintigraphic scoring system had a positive predictive value of 96.9% and a negative predictive value of 71.4%.Conclusion:GERS with its quantitative parameters is a good investigation for assessing the severity of reflux and also for following children post-treatment.

Infantlarda ve Çocuklarda Gastroözefagial Reflü Hastalığının Gastoözefagial Reflü Sintigrafisi ile Değerlendirilmesi

“…GERS is known as an efficient examination for assessing the severity of reflux particularly when quantified with its parameters (4). Furthermore, it is an additional diagnostic test for the diagnosis and follow-up of GER in infants and children, which allows quantification of gastric emptying and detection of reflux aspiration into the bronchial system.…”

Reflux, aspiration and respiratory disease in dogs : clinical consideration and advances in aerodigestive diagnostics

“…most distal ROI from the stomach) by reflux for each dog. Reflux volume was calculated as previously described (243). Reflux volume was depicted as the percent of gastric counts refluxed during each event.…”

“…Median (IQR) reflux volume displayed for esophageal (E1-E3) and pharyngeal (P) regions of interest (ROI). Volume is displayed as a percent of gastric counts (243). The volume of refluxate in the E1 ROI was significantly increased compared to E2, E3, and P ROI.…”