Esophageal transit scintigraphy--a cautionary note.

Esophageal transit scintigraphy and esophageal manometry were compared in forty-two patients with symptoms of esophageal disease. Fifteen healthy volunteers were studied as a control group for the scintigraphic investigation. Agreement between the tests was present in 79% of patients. In all the five patients in whom the esophageal manometry was abnormal and the esophageal transit study was normal, the manometric finding was "giant esophageal contractions." In four of the control group an abnormal transit pattern was observed on one of two esophageal studies. Esophageal transit scintigraphy has some limitations as a screening test for esophageal motor dysfunction.