Gastroesophageal reflux scintigraphy with radioactive capsules--a new technique for detection and quantitation of reflux.

A new technique for performing quantitative gastroesophageal scintigraphy has been described. The method involves administration of radioactivity in capsule form into the stomach; the isotope is released after dissolution of the capsule. The mean time of onset of capsule breakage was 3.3 min (range 2-5 min) and complete dissolution occurred by 6.0 min (range 5-8 min). The appearance of isotope activity in the oesophagus by means of cine scintigraphy was quantified by PDP 11/34 computer (Gamma-11) in terms of percentage of gastroesophageal reflux (GER). In 15 healthy subjects, the percentage of reflux (mean +/- S.D.) in the lower, middle and upper oesophagus was found to be 1.25 +/- 0.67, 0.26 +/- 0.23 and 0.02 +/- 0.04 respectively. We have studied 52 patients using this technique, and results are encouraging.