ULTRASOUND AS A SCREENING STUDY FOR GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX IN CHILDREN

A comparison of the abilities of ultrasound and scintigraphy to detect gastro-oesophageal reflux was made in 110 children (mean age 24.5 mon ths) who were divided into groups A (n = 49) and B (n = 61). The forme r had scintigraphy first followed by ultrasound within about 30 min. F or group B scintigraphy was also performed first, but the delay before ultrasound ranged between 1 and 30 days. In most patients (91/110) co ncordant results were obtained by the two modalities. The 19/110 disco rdant results can be explained by several plausible mechanisms. It is concluded that ultrasound should be employed much more frequently as a n initial investigation when pathological reflux is suspected in child ren.