COMPARISON OF RADIONUCLIDE LABELED TEST MEALS VERSUS ENDOSCOPY IN THEPREOPERATIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE GASTRIC OUTLET PATENCY

A series of 39 patients with peptic ulcer disease is investigated with respect ro gastric outlet obstruction. Two diagnostic tools are compa red, namely endoscopy and evaluation of radionuclide meal emptying. En doscopic obstruction was qualified as non passage of a 14 mm gastrosco pe. Gastric emptying reduction was considered clinically relevant when half emptying times exceeded 60 minutes for solids and 12 minutes for liquids. Comparison of both techniques of radionuclide meal emptying with endoscopy showed a poor correlation (accuracy 15/28), especially when liquid gastric emptying versus endoscopy was concerned.