In 30 patients with syndrome X, esophageal motility was evaluated by radion
uclide esophageal transit test (RETT). Esophageal motility measurements inc
luded esophageal mean transit time (MTT), residual fraction (RF), and retro
grade index (RI). In comparison with 25 age- and sex-matched healthy volunt
eers, 66% of the patients with syndrome X had abnormal RETT findings includ
ing 50% of cases with longer MTT, 50% of cases with higher RF, and 33% of c
ases with higher RI. In addition, the mean values of MTT, RF, and RI in pat
ients with syndrome X were significantly higher than those of healthy volun
teers. We conclude that abnormal esophageal motility occurred in a large po
rtion of syndrome X patients based on an simple and noninvasive RETT. Copyr
ight (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.