Evaluation of gastric motility by Fourier analysis of condensed images

In this study Fourier analysis was applied to condensed images of gastric e mptying with the aim of evaluating the amplitude and frequency of gastric c ontractions as well as gastric emptying in patients with various well-defin ed disorders. In 15 controls, 65 patients with progressive systemic scleros is (PSS), 41 patients with diabetes mellitus type I (DM), 12 patients with pyloric stenosis and 9 patients who had undergone gastric surgery, gastric emptying was determined after ingestion of a semi-solid test meal. In addit ion, condensed images were generated to evaluate the amplitude and frequenc y of gastric contractions by means of Fourier analysis. In PSS and Dh? pati ents, gastric emptying and contraction amplitudes were significantly reduce d (P<0.01). Patients with pyloric stenosis displayed regular peristalsis bu t significantly delayed emptying (P<0.01). Patients who had undergone gastr ic surgery showed normal or rapid gastric emptying associated with decrease d amplitudes (P<0.01). The frequency of gastric contractions in the patient groups was not different from that in controls. This study showed Fourier analysis of condensed images to be a rapid and feasible approach for the ev aluation of gastric contractions. Depending on the underlying disorder, gas tric emptying and peristalsis showed both corresponding and discrepant find ings. Data on gastric contractions provided additional information compared with results obtained by conventional emptying studies. Therefore, both pa rameters should be routinely assessed to further improve characterisation o f gastric dysfunction by scintigraphy.