Scintigraphy for evaluation of patients for GI motility disorders--the referring physician's perspective.

Gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders are common and cause either delayed or accelerated transit through the stomach, small intestine, or colon. Assessment of GI transit times can provide direct measurements and diagnostic information to help explain the cause of symptoms and help plan therapy. Several diagnostic tests are available. Gastric emptying can be measured with scintigraphy, wireless motility capsule, and (13)C breath tests. Colonic transit can be measured with radio-opaque markers, wireless motility capsule, and scintigraphy. This article discusses a physician's perspective on evaluating GI transit in patients with suspected GI disorders, particularly those involving the stomach for gastroparesis and the colon in patients with constipation.