2025
A gastric emptying scan is a nuclear medicine study which provides an a ssessment of the stomach’s ability to empty.
It may be used if there are complications after gastric surgery, for gastric reflux, or suspected gastroparesis.
Regarded as the gold standard for gastric emptying.
Having fasted for around four hours before the scan, the patient is given a solid or semi-solid meal, such as scrambled eggs on toast or porridge, which has been prepared with a radiopharmaceutical component.
Technetium-99m DTPA is typically used.
Images are acquired with a gamma camera, initially dynamically and then at intervals for up to 2-3 hours.