Pediatric Gastric Emptying Scan (Nuclear Medicine)

A gastric emptying scan is a nuclear medicine exam in which the patient receives a radioactive substance orally followed by multiple scans of the stomach. Gastric emptying scans are used to check the amount of time it takes the stomach to empty after a meal.

Nuclear medicine exams are unique because they provide a way to evaluate the function of various internal organs and tissues, rather than just the anatomy. Nuclear medicine scans are very safe. The patient receives a tiny amount of radioactive material so radiation exposure is minimal. The radioactive material is targeted to the specific body tissue being studied which limits exposure to other areas of the body. The energy emitted from the radioactive material is detected by a camera and used to create images which are studied by a radiologist.

This page contains the following information about nuclear medicine gastric emptying scans:

Reasons for Having a Gastric Emptying Scan

Gastric emptying scans are used to diagnose movement disorders of the stomach, gastroesophageal reflux, and aspiration.

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Risks Involved in a Gastric Emptying Scan

There is the risk of radiation exposure; however, a very small amount of radioactive material is used and the radiation exposure is well below the level that causes adverse affects. The radioactive material will generally clear your child’s body within 24 hours. Nuclear medicine has been used in newborns and children for more than three decades, and there are no known long-term adverse effects from such low-dose exams.

It is possible for your child to have side effects or adverse reactions to the radioactive materials; however, this is rare.

Conditions to Let Our Doctor Know About

In advance of your exam, let your INVISION radiologist or technologist know if your child has any food allergies or dietary restrictions.

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Insurance Coverage

Gastric emptying scans are usually covered by insurance when ordered by a physician. Check with your insurance carrier to be sure. Please bring your insurance card with you to your exam.

Exam Locations

Pediatric gallium scans may be performed at the following INVISION partner hospitals in the Denver, Colorado area. Exam results are evaluated by INVISION radiologists.

Please note:

INVISION is partially owned by Radiology Imaging Associates (RIA); consequently, your radiologist’s lab coat and your bill, if you receive one, may say RIA rather than INVISION.

Scheduling this Exam

To schedule a pediatric gastric emptying scan, please call the hospital where the exam will be performed.

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Preparation Guidelines

Following are the preparation instructions for this exam:

It is important that you also provide emotional support for your child before and during the procedure. If your child is old enough to understand, explain the procedure to him or her. Let him or her know that the exam won’t hurt and that he or she will have to lie very still while images are taken. Also reassure your child that you will be able to remain in the room during the scans.

Support for Your Child during the Exam

We allow up to two adults in the nuclear medicine room with your child to provide support.

What to Expect During the Exam

Upon arriving in the radiology department for your appointment, you will be given paperwork to complete.

Your child will need to ingest food or formula with a small amount of radioactive material mixed in before the exam begins. He or she will have approximately 15 minutes to do so. If your child cannot take food or formula by mouth and does not have a G-tube, a tube will be inserted into your child’s stomach and formula will be administered through the tube. The tube will then be removed.

Your child will receive a scan every 15 minutes to obtain an image of the stomach contents. Each scan will take approximately one minute. The exam will take 60-75 minutes, depending on the number of scans that need to be performed.

Your child may watch a movie or listen to a CD while waiting between scans.

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Recovering from this Imaging Exam

Your child can return to his or her normal activities immediately after the exam.

Getting Your Child's Exam Results

Trained and experienced pediatric radiologists interpret all exams, and then report the specific results to the physician who ordered your exam. Your physician will usually receive the report on the day of the exam. Your physician will then pass the results onto you. Our radiologists and technologists will be happy to answer questions about the exam procedure itself; however, they will not provide the exam results at the time the exam is performed.

Additional Information

The information on this page was taken in part from some of the following web sites. Visit these sites for additional information on gastric emptying scans.

Sources

Gastric emptying scans are used to check the amount of time it takes the stomach to empty after a mealIt is important that you provide emotional support for your child before and during the gastric emptying scan