Gastroenterology

Assessment of bile acid absorption (SeHCAT)

Description: Assessment of the degree of absorption/retention of bile acids in the gastrointestinal tract, based on the oral administration of tauroselcholic acid labelled with 75Se.

Preparation

• A fast of at least 3 hours (6 to 8 hours recommended).

Indications

• Assessment of bile acid malabsorption.
• Chronic diarrhoeal syndromes.
• Assessment of (terminal) ileal function and of inflammatory bowel disease with ileal involvement.

Test duration

5 minutes on day 1 and 5 minutes on day 7.

Assessment of the salivary glands / Salivary scintigraphy

Description: Assessment of the excretory dynamics of the salivary glands.

Preparation

• No prior preparation is required.
• Optional citric acid stimulation.

Indications

• Study of functional disorders of the salivary glands.
• Diagnosis and follow-up of sicca syndrome or Sjögren's syndrome.
• Assessment of xerostomia in patients receiving cervical radiotherapy and radioiodine.
• Study of salivary gland tumours.

Test duration

1 hour.

Labelled leucocyte scintigraphy for the study of inflammatory bowel disease

Description: Assessment of the distribution of labelled leucocytes in inflammatory and infectious bowel processes.

Preparation

• A fast of at least 6 hours is recommended.
• Fasting is essential for the study of inflammatory bowel disease. In this condition and in abdominal disorders, fasting must be maintained for the duration of the scan.

Indications

• Study of inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, etc.) and abdominal septic processes.

Test duration

4 hours.

Gastrointestinal bleeding scintigraphy / Detection of occult bleeding

Description: Detection and localisation of gastrointestinal bleeding.

Preparation

• No prior preparation is required.
• The patient will remain fasting during the test.
• Radiological examinations with barium contrast must be avoided for at least 48 hours beforehand and during the test.

Indications

• Diagnosis of gastrointestinal bleeding.
• Localisation of intestinal bleeding sites.

Test duration

1 to 24 hours.

Scintigraphy for the detection of ectopic gastric mucosa / Detection of Meckel's diverticulum

Description: —

Preparation

Indications

Test duration

Urea breath test

Description: Detection of Helicobacter pylori infection.

Preparation

• A fast of at least 6–8 hours and no smoking for 6 hours beforehand.
• It is important to bear in mind that any medication related to Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment or to urease activity affects the test. The test should therefore be performed at least 4 weeks after stopping antibacterial medication and 4 weeks after the last dose of any antisecretory medication. This is particularly important when checking eradication.

Indications

• Detection of stomach infection by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori.
• CONTRAINDICATIONS:
• Patients with documented or suspected gastric infection or atrophic gastritis that could interfere with the test.

Test duration

40 minutes.

Liver-spleen angioscintigraphy / Liver-spleen scintigraphy / Liver-spleen tomoscintigraphy (SPECT/SPECT-CT)

Description: Assessment of hepatosplenic perfusion and hepatosplenic reticuloendothelial activity. Detection of hepatosplenic lesions that are small or located in areas that are difficult to assess on planar images.

Preparation

• No prior preparation is required.

Indications

• Assessment of hepatosplenic perfusion.
• Assessment of chronic liver disease (cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, etc.).
• Assessment of the size and morphology of the liver and spleen.

Test duration

45 minutes.

Gastric emptying scintigraphy

Description: Assessment of the gastric transit of a radioactive tracer administered together with a standardised meal.

Preparation

• A fast of at least 8 hours.
• Any treatment with prokinetic drugs (Cleboril, Primperan) must be identified.
• During this test the patient may not eat or drink anything else, may not smoke and must remain upright (standing or sitting, but never lying down).

Indications

• Assessment of delayed gastric emptying of liquid or solid food (gastroparesis) or of accelerated transit.

Test duration

4 hours.

Oesophageal transit scintigraphy / Intestinal transit scintigraphy / Scintigraphic swallowing study

Description: Assessment of the passage through the oesophagus of a swallowed tracer, given in a liquid or semi-solid vehicle. Assessment of the intestinal transit of solids or liquids.

Preparation

• A fast of at least 3 hours.

Indications

• Assessment of oesophageal motility disorders and swallowing disorders for liquid and semi-solid food.
• Assessment of achalasia as part of the screening of nocturnal cough and pulmonary microaspiration.
• Assessment of intestinal transit.

Test duration

15 minutes.

Gastro-oesophageal reflux scintigraphy / Detection of pulmonary microaspiration

Description: Assessment of the passage of gastric activity into the oesophagus (reflux).

Preparation

• A fast of at least 3 hours.

Indications

• Assessment of gastro-oesophageal reflux and of the presence of pulmonary microaspiration.

Test duration

1 to 4 hours.