Solid-Meal Gastric-Emptying Study with Tc-99m Sulfur Colloid
This section covers nuclear imaging of gastric emptying, typically for the assessment of gastroparesis.
Patient Preparation
Fasting
Adult patients should fast at least 4 hours prior to ingesting radiolabeled solid meal.
Special Patients Groups
Diabetic Patients: Blood glucose should be less than 200 mg/dL.
Premenopausal Patients: Study should be done days 1 to 10 of menstrual cycle to avoid hormonal effects on GI motility.
Interference by Medications
Patients should stop prokinetics for 2 days up to the study: Reglan (metoclopramide), Zelnorm (tegaserod), erythromycin, and Motilium (domperidone).
Patients should stop opiates or antispasmodics for 2 days up to the study such as: Bentyl, Donnatal, Levsin, Robinul; and morphine sulfate, Dilaudid (hydromorphone), and tramadol.
Other medications that likely affect gastric motility: atropine, nifedipine, progesterone, octreotide, theophylline, benzodiazepine, phentolamine, and fentanyl patch.
Sources of preparation information:
Donohoe KJ et al. Procedure Guideline for Adult Solid-Meal Gastric-Emptying Study 3.0. Society of Nuclear Medicine. 2009.
Patient Information on Gastric Emptying Scintigraphy.Hosted by Motility Society. Date unknown.
Camilleri M. Diabetic Gastroparesis. N Engl J Med 2007;356:820-9.
Adult patients should fast at least 4 hours prior to ingesting radiolabeled solid meal.
Special Patients Groups
Diabetic Patients: Blood glucose should be less than 200 mg/dL.
Premenopausal Patients: Study should be done days 1 to 10 of menstrual cycle to avoid hormonal effects on GI motility.
Interference by Medications
Patients should stop prokinetics for 2 days up to the study: Reglan (metoclopramide), Zelnorm (tegaserod), erythromycin, and Motilium (domperidone).
Patients should stop opiates or antispasmodics for 2 days up to the study such as: Bentyl, Donnatal, Levsin, Robinul; and morphine sulfate, Dilaudid (hydromorphone), and tramadol.
Other medications that likely affect gastric motility: atropine, nifedipine, progesterone, octreotide, theophylline, benzodiazepine, phentolamine, and fentanyl patch.
Sources of preparation information:
Donohoe KJ et al. Procedure Guideline for Adult Solid-Meal Gastric-Emptying Study 3.0. Society of Nuclear Medicine. 2009.
Patient Information on Gastric Emptying Scintigraphy.Hosted by Motility Society. Date unknown.
Camilleri M. Diabetic Gastroparesis. N Engl J Med 2007;356:820-9.