Standards for non-invasive methods for gastrointestinal motility: scintigraphy. A position statement from the Gruppo Italiano di Studio Motilita Apparato Digerente [GISMAD]

Scintigraphic techniques are well established methods to assess gastrointes tinal transit patterns. The main advantages are represented by the possibil ity to evaluate, in a relatively non-invasive manner, the transit time of s pecific components of physiological meals as well as of some digestive secr etions. These techniques are generally wail accepted by the patients and re sults are largely not operator dependent. Their main limitation is the use of a radioisotope, that prevents repeated applications in ail subjects and immediate exclusion of women of childbearing potential. Due to the high cos ts of these tests and the limited availability of Nuclear Medicine Departme nts, scintigraphic techniques should be reserved for well-selected patients . A review is made of the technical requirements and indications for scinti graphic tests currently available for clinical purposes (gastric emptying s tudy, oesophageal transit time, evaluation of gastro-oesophageal reflux, in testinal and colonic transit time, evaluation of biliary motility and of du odenogastric reflux).